THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA 
AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


ENDOWED  BY  THE 
DIALECTIC  AND  PHILANTHROPIC 
SOCIETIES 


PS11U, 

.B85 

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rh  s  book  is  due  at  the  LOUIS  R.  WILSON  LIBRARY  on  the 
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DATE 
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I  

\,  Form  No.  513 


1 

4. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/watadamsyoungmacOOboyd 


The  Miller. 


Wat  Adams, 

) 

THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST, 


AND  HIS  PROVERBS. 

P5//JY 

BY 

Mrs.  MARY  D.  R.  BOYD, 

AUTHOR  OF 

"stepping-stones  over  the  brook,"  "the  three  rules,"  etc.,  etc. 


"  He  gave  good  heed,  and  sought  out,  and  set  in  order  many  prov- 
erbs."— Eccl.  xii.  9. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 
1334  CHESTNUT  STREET. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1876,  by 

THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Westcott  &  Thomson, 
Stereotypers  and  fflectrotypers,  Philada. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

PAGE 

Many  Words  won't  Fill  a  Bushel   7 

CHAPTEE  II. 
Just  as  the  Twig  is  Bent   19 

CHAPTEE  III. 
Time  is  Money  fct   29 

CHAPTEE  IV. 
All  Play  and  no  Work   38 

CHAPTEE  V. 
All  Work  and  no  Play   49 

CHAPTEE  VI. 

One  To-day  is  worth  two  To-Morrows   59 

3 


4 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Trouble  always  comes  Double  

CHAPTER  VIII. 
No  Lands,  so  Help  Hands  

CHAPTER  IX. 
Fortune  Favors  the  Brave  

CHAPTER  X. 
Nothing  Venture,  Nothing  Have 

CHAPTER  XI. 
A  Friend  in  Need...  

CHAPTER  XII. 
Perseverance  Conquers  Difficulties 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
No  Pains,  no  Gains  

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Punctuality  is  the  Soul  of  Business 


CHAPTER  XV. 
Habit  is  Second  Nature  


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
Industry  and  Frugality  lead  to  Success 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
Hammering  In  and  Hammering  Out..., 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Right  Makes  Might  

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Character  is  Power  

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  Tongue  Outruns  the  Wit  

CHAPTER  XXI. 
He  Rules  Best  who  has  Served  Best. 


Wat  Adams. 


CHAPTER  I. 
MANY  WORDS  WON'T  FILL  A  BUSHEL. 

djtlOW  the  youthful  hero  of  our  story 
pJMi  acquired  the  singular  name  of  "  Old 
Proverbs "  will  be  best  known  by  tak- 
ing a  glance  at  his  early  history. 
And  here  let  it  be  observed  that  the  word 
"  hero,"  although  it  is  ordinarily  applied  to 
a  warrior — a  man  who  has  fought  and  bled 
for  his  country,  and  done  wondrous  deeds  of 
valor — yet  in  a  higher  sense  means  the 
true  champion  of  right  and  order,  one  who 
stands  up  to  his  colors  at  all  times  and  in 
all  places,  no  matter  how  strongly  the  tide 
of  popular  opinion  may  set  against  him. 
There  is  a  moral  heroism,  superior  to  mere 
animal  courage,  which  is  often  lacking  in  the 

7 


8 


WAT  ADAMS, 


character  of  the  military  leader,  from  defects 
in  early  training  and  want  of  the  habits  of 
discipline  and  self-government.  "He  that 
is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty  ; 
and  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit  than  he  that 
taketh  a  city." 

First,  then,  as  to  the  real  name  and  home 
of  the  subject  of  our  story — two  items  sup- 
posed to  be  indispensable  in  making  a  new 
acquaintance,  although  generally  the  only  fic- 
titious circumstances  connected  with  it.  For 
instance,  you  may  find  several  places  called 
"  Holly  "  on  your  map,  and  yet  fail  to  meet 
with  the  ruins  of  an  old  mill  that  once  occu- 
pied a  prominent  site  in  the  neighborhood  of 
our  particular  Holly,  or  encounter  any  one 
who  may  remember  the  worthy  miller  Dan- 
iel Adams. 

It  was  a  picturesque  nook  enough,  this 
same  old  mill,  standing  a  rod  or  two  from 
the  brink  of  the  noisy  little  stream  that  sup- 
plied it  with  water  and  widened  at  that 
point  into  a  sort  of  lake,  with  sluice-gates  to 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


9 


lower  or  raise  it  at  pleasure.  This  little  pool 
was  girt  in  with  forest  trees  that  bent  their 
feathery  branches  as  if  listening  to  the  con- 
stant chafing  of  the  waters  against  the  pebbly 
banks,  while  the  low  rumble  of  the  great  mill- 
wheel  sounded  pleasantly  in  the  distance. 

The  miller  was  not  an  old  man  by  any 
means,  but  stout  and  hearty,  with  curling 
chestnut  locks  that  were  as  yet  only  whi- 
tened by  the  dust  of  his  mill.  He  was  very 
cheerful  too,  and  sung  or  whistled  as  he 
walked  back  and  forth  to  keep  his  hoppers 
well  filled  and  see  that  his  machinery  was  in 
good  working  order.  He  had  besides  abun- 
dance of  leisure ;  for  his  practiced  ear  could 
tell  to  a  moment  when  a  new  supply  of 
grain  was  wanted,  even  if  he  were  chatting 
with  a  neighbor  as  he  helped  to  load  his 
team  with  the  plump  sacks  of  flour  fresh 
from  the  grinding,  or  sat  in  his  little  room 
on  one  side  of  the  mill  and  busied  himself 
with  some  of  his  favorite  volumes. 

Daniel  Adams  was  very  fond  of  reading, 


10 


WAT  ADAMS, 


and  not  a  few  choice  books  were  arranged  on 
the  high  shelf  above  his  little  unpainted 
table,  which,  with  an  antiquated  arm-chair 
or  two,  and  in  winter  a  comfortable  wood- 
stove,  made  up  the  furniture  of  this  small 
apartment. 

But  it  is  not  winter  now,  neither  is  the 
miller  engaged  in  his  usual  recreations  as  we 
look  in  at  the  open  door  of  the  mill.  This 
door  is  as  old-fashioned  as  anything  about 
the  premises,  being  divided  into  upper  and 
lower  compartments,  so  that  one  half  can  be 
shut  at  pleasure,  while  the  air  and  sunshine 
are  admitted  from  above. 

A  slanting  beam  from  the  almost  setting 
sun  has  indeed  found  its  way  into  the  dusty 
corners  of  the  mill,  and  crowns  the  golden 
head  of  a  little  girl  who  is  seated  on  the 
floor,  sifting  through  her  small  dimpled 
hands  some  grains  of  wheat  from  the  great 
heaps  that  are  piled  around  ready  for  the 
grinding.  This  is  the  miller's  little  daughter, 
and  as  he  passes  by  he  often  stops  to  speak 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


11 


a  pleasant  word  to  lier  or  stoops  to  pat  her 
rosy  cheek  as  she  looks  up  in  his  face  and 
asks  some  childlike  question. 

But  the  miller's  countenance  is  graver  this 
afternoon  than  usual ;  he  neither  sings  nor 
whistles  as  he  mechanically  attends  to  his 
calling,  and  he  often  steps  to  the  door  and 
gazes  wistfully  in  the  direction  of  the  little 
cottage  near  the  lake  which  is  to  him  the 
dearest  spot  in  the  world,  because  it  is  his 
home.  But  after  all  his  watching  and  wait- 
ing, he  is  taken  by  surprise  at  last  as  the 
tall  figure  of  a  woman  intercepts  the  sun- 
beam, while  she  leans  with  her  bare  arms 
on  the  half  door  of  the  mill  and  exclaims  in 
a  high-pitched  voice, 

"Well,  Dan'l,  it's  a  boy  this  time  for 
sartin." 

The  miller's  brown  cheek  took  on  a  deeper 
hue,  and  his  wide  mouth  opened  with  a  low 
laugh  of  pleasure  that  showed  teeth  white 
as  his  own  bolted  flour.  Yet  being  a  man 
of  few  words,  he  said  nothing  at  the  time ; 


12 


WAT  ADAMS, 


but  lifting  his  little  girl  from  tlie  floor,  he 
hugged  her  close  to  his  breast,  as  if  to  imply 
that  not  even  a  son  should  take  the  place  of 
his  first-born  darling. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  old  woman  came  into 
the  mill,  and  seating  herself  on  a  heap  of 
well-filled  sacks  of  corn  began  to  adjust  the 
frills  of  her  mob-cap  and  otherwise  repair 
the  disordered  state  of  garments  that  had 
been  somewhat  neglected  in  the  bustle  of  the 
important  occasion.  While  she  pinned  and 
unpinned  her  white  neck-kerchief,  until  she 
got  it  settled  to  the  proper  angle,  Grandma 
Haynes,  who  was  as  unlike  her  son-in-law  as 
possible,  commenced  to  gossip  volubly  about 
the  new  arrival  : 

"  He's  the  very  moral  of  you,  Dan'l,  if  I 
have  any  eyes  in  my  head,  while  little  Kizzy 
here  takes  after  her  mother  to  at.  So  I 
suppose  the  boy'll  be  called  Dan'l,  as  it's 
proper  and  right  he  should  be." 

The  miller  stopped  in  his  walk,  put  down 
his  little  girl  and  thoughtfully  chewed  a 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


13 


piece  of  straw  that  he  had  picked  out  from 
the  pile  of  wheat. 

"I'd  rather  call  him  Benjamin  Franklin, 
if  I've  any  say  in  the  matter/'  he  remarked, 
with  a  slight  hesitation  in  his  manner,  as  if 
he  expected  some  opposition  to  his  proposal. 

"  What !"  exclaimed  Grandma  Haynes, 
sharply ;  "  and  who  be  he,  I'd  like  to  know  ? 
Not  any  relation  of  yours  by  the  mother's 
side,  is  he  ?" 

"  Oh  no,"  said  the  miller,  smiling,  "  only  a 
great  wise  man — a  philosopher — that  I've 
been  reading  about  in  a  book  I  have  in 
yonder.  He's  the  one,  mother,  who  first 
found  out  how  to  bring  the  lightning  down 
from  the  clouds  and  keep  it  off  our  houses 
and  barns." 

"  Well,  I  always  thought  that  was  very 
wicked,"  said  Grandma  Haynes,  decidedly  ; 
"  it's  a  clear  distrusting  of  Providence,  to  my 
mind,  and  seems  like  a  tampering  of  things 
above  our  knowledge.  I  don't  think  the 
Almighty  ever  meant  us  to  pry  into  such 


14 


WAT  ADAMS, 


matters,  or  else  he'd  have  revealed  them  to 
us  himself." 

"  But  he  has  given  us  minds  to  compre- 
hend, and  surely  the  more  we  know  of  his 
wisdom  and  goodness,  as  displayed  to  us  in 
the  wonders  of  creation,  the  greater  will  be 
our  love  and  reverence  to  the  great  Creator. 
You  know  what  David  said  :  '  When  I  con- 
sider thy  heavens,  the  work  of  thy  fingers, 
the  moon  and  the  stars  which  thou  hast  or- 
dained, what  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful 
of  him,  and  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  visit- 
est  him?' " 

"Now,  that  sounds  something  like,"  re- 
marked Grandma  Haynes,  admiringly,  she 
having  a  wholesome  reverence  for  the  Bible ; 
"  and  if  you  were  a-going  to  call  your  child 
by  any  good  Scripter  name,  such  as  David 
or  the  like,  instead  of  that  'losopher  as  you 
was  a-telling  me  of  just  now — " 

"Why,  mother,"  interrupted  the  miller, 
laughing,  "  Benjamin  is  a  Bible  name,  don't 
you  know  ?    However,  it's  neither  here  nor 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


15 


there ;  Huldah'll  have  a  choice  in  the  busi- 
ness, as  it's  her  right,  no  doubt." 

"  She  !"  exclaimed  the  old  lady,  scornfully  ; 
"  she's  sot  her  heart  on  the  baby  being  called 
after  the  one  that's  dead  and  gone,  sweet 
lamb  !  Says  I  to  her,  '  Huldy,  it  isn't  lucky 
to  have  two  children  of  the  same  name  one 
after  t'other.  Sure  as  you  do  he'll  die.'  Chil- 
dren always  do  if  they're  named  after  the 
one  that's  dead.  Leastways,  that's  my  ex- 
perience." 

The  miller's  face  twitched  painfully,  and  he 
passed  his  broad  hand  several  times  across 
his  eyes  as  he  pretended  to  busy  himself 
about  the  work  of  the  mill.  He  remember- 
ed—what parent  can  ever  forget?— that 
moment  of  irrepressible  agony  when  the 
little  busy  hands  were  folded  over  the  quiet 
breast,  the  tireless  feet  stilled  for  ever,  and 
the  small  rosebud  of  a  mouth  that  had 
dimpled  with  smiles  and  innocent  words 
frozen  into  the  everlasting  quiet  of  the 
grave. 


16 


WA  T  ADAMS, 


But  Daniel  Adams  was  a  true  Christian. 
He  knew  it  was  well  with  the  child,  and  that 
he  was  saved  from  the  trials  and  cares  of  a 
troublesome  world — one  of  the  dear  lambs  of 
the  good  Shepherd,  whom  he  takes  away 
early,  as  the  choicest  flowers  are  gathered, 
for  gifts  to  the  great  King.  Neither  was  he 
in  the  least  superstitious,  nor  did  he  believe 
that  to  name  his  living  child  for  the  beloved 
dead  would  cause  a  second  bereavement.  Yet 
somehow  it  grated  on  his  feelings  that  the 
name  that  was  inscribed  on  the  pages  of  his 
family  Bible — the  book  that  had  been  his 
father's  and  now  bore  the  record  of  a  second 
generation — was  to  be  given  to  another.  He 
wanted  the  name  of  his  dead  child  to  be 
always  remembered  and  spoken  in  the  house- 
hold— not  as  of  one  lost,  but  only  gone  before 
to  a  heaven  of  infinite  purity  and  bliss. 

Yet  being,  as  has  been  observed,  a  man  of 
few  words,  he  said  nothing  of  all  that  was  in 
his  mind  to  the  good  old  lady,  who  sat  so 
contentedly  before  him  on  the  heap  of  piled- 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


17 


up  bags.  Perhaps  she  would  not  have  un- 
derstood him  if  he  had.  Instead  of  that,  he 
affected  to  treat  the  whole  subject  lightly 
as  he  prepared  to  stop  the  mill  and  make  all 
fast  for  the  night,  saying  as  he  did  so, 

"Well,  well,  mother,  'many  words  won't 
fill  a  bushel,'  so  there's  no  use  talking  any 
more  about  the  matter.  I  think  it's  high 
time  I  was  going  to  see  Huldah  and  our 
little  boy  ;  she'll  think  I'm  long  of  coming." 

"  And  that's  just  what  I  came  to  tell  you," 
cried  Grandma  Haynes,  springing  lightly  to 
her  feet  with  almost  the  agility  of  youth  ; 
"  she  told  me  to  ask  you  to  come  right  away, 
and  Sally  Jones,  she  called  out  to  me  that 
supper  was  a'most  ready,  and  here  I've  forgot 
all  about  both  my  errands.  But  you  do  talk 
so,  Dan'l  Adams,  when  you're  once  set  a-go- 
ing, that  my  head  gets  quite  carried  away 
with  you." 

So  catching  the  hand  of  little  Keziah,  who 
lingered  behind,  unwilling  to  leave  her  fath- 
er, the  old  lady  hurried  back  to  the  house, 


18 


WAT  ADAMS. 


the  miller  following  at  a  more  sober  pace, 
wondering  greatly  at  this  new  trait  which 
his  mother-in-law  had  discovered  in  his 
character. 


CHAPTER  II. 


JUST  AS  THE  TWIG  IS  BENT. 

ULDAH  ADAMS  was  a  meek  little 
woman,  gentle-eyed  and  sweet-voiced, 
not  in  the  least  resembling  her  bust- 
ling, strong-minded  mother,  whose 
will,  meeting  with  but  slight  opposition  from 
the  quiet  couple  with  whom  she  lived,  had 
become  an  absolute  law  in  the  household. 

It  was  perhaps  on  this  account,  together 
with  some  undefined  feeling  of  dread  of  "  the 
judgment"  that  would  be  sure  to  follow  in 
case  her  new-born  baby  should  bear  the  name 
of  his  dead  brother,  that  the  young  wife 
wavered  in  her  choice  of  a  name,  and  subse- 
quently gave  up  her  own  fancy  altogether, 
especially  as  she  discovered  that  it  was  ex- 
tremely distasteful  to  her  husband. 

19 


20 


WAT  ADAMS, 


On  the  other  hand,  the  good  miller  found 
out  by  dint  of  much  questioning  that  Benja- 
min, though  "  a  good  Scripter  name  enough," 
and  remarkably  appropriate,  with  its  strong, 
Hebrew  signification,  was  not  a  favorite 
either  with  his  wife  or  her  mother.  Indeed, 
the  old  lady  exclaimed,  with  much  asperity, 
when  her  son-in-law  tried  to  explain  the 
meaning  of  the  word, 

"  Hebrew,  indeed  !  As  if  we  were  all  going 
back  to  the  Jews  again !  And  to  be  plain 
with  you,  Dan'l,  I  think  it  would  be  much 
more  respectable  to  call  your  child  after 
some  of  your  own  folks,  or  Huldy's  here, 
instead  of  naming  him  for  a  stranger.  Don't 
you  know  as  children  generally  take  after 
the  one  they're  named  for?  Ay,  you  may 
laugh,  but  I've  seen  it  as  much  as  fifty  times, 
and  fifty  to  the  back  of  that." 

"  Which  makes  a  hundred  strong  argu- 
ments in  favor  of  your  theory,"  said  the 
miller,  smiling ;  "  but  I  suppose  the  little 
ones  were  generally  named  for  some  of  their 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


21 


own  kin,  so  it  was  no  great  wonder  that 
they  resembled  them  in  both  character  and 
person." 

Finally,  after  much  consultation  and  many 
deliberations  over  various  cognomens,  it  was 
agreed  to  give  the  important  little  stranger 
the  name  of  Walter,  for  an  absent  brother 
of  Huldah'  s,  as  a  prefix  to  that  of  Frank- 
lin, thus  dropping  the  Benjamin  altogether. 
With  this  arrangement  the  grandmother 
professed  to  be  quite  satisfied,  and  remarked 
that — 

"  It  was  as  good  as  a  fortune  to  the  little 
lad,  for  Uncle  Walter  was  sure  to  come  home 
some  time  with  money  in  his  purse,  and  he 
wTas  never  known  to  be  a  miser  or  a  churl  in 
all  his  born  days." 

"  I  don't  want  any  man's  money  for  my 
children,"  said  the  good  miller  as  he  thought- 
fully took  the  pink  fingers  of  his  infant  son 
and  held  them  a  moment  in  his  broad  palm ; 
"but  I  do  ask  the  blessing  of  God,  which 
maketh  rich  and  addeth  no  sorrow  with  it. 


22 


WAT  ADAMS, 


Let  them  but  have  that  for  their  portion,  and 
I  desire  no  better  inheritance." 

Yet  notwithstanding  the  father  had  par- 
tially carried  out  his  idea  in  naming  his  child 
after  the  venerable  American  statesman  and 
philosopher,  he  was  destined,  after  all,  never 
to  have  his  wish  accomplished.  Grandma 
Haynes  decided  from  the  very  first  to  short- 
en the  boy's  name  to  "  Wat,"  and  as  he  grew 
in  years  Wat  Adams  was  his  familiar  desig- 
nation among  his  young  companions. 

The  old  lady  would  fain  have  had  her  way 
in  other  matters  too.  She  looked  wTith  no 
partial  eye  on  the  miller's  studious  habits, 
and  often  remarked  to  her  daughter  that 
"  she  hoped  little  Wat  would  never  be  a 
bookworm  like  his  father.  She  hated,  for 
her  part,  to  see  a  man  always  poring  over  a 
book  instead  of  being  sociable  and  lively  and 
good  company  with  his  neighbors." 

"  But,  mother,"  ventured  Huldah,  timidly, 
"  Daniel  is  a  first-rate  provider  and  a  loving 
father  and  husband.    Isn't  it  better  for  him 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  23 


to  spend  his  leisure-time  over  a  good  in- 
structive book  than  to  go  out  evenings  and 
to  stay  away  late,  besides,  maybe,  getting 
into  bad  company  and  learning  idle  habits  ? 
There's  Jethro  Crane  ;  you  know  everybody 
called  him  such  good  company,  and  so  they 
enticed  him  away  night  after  night  to  the 
tavern.  Nobody  could  sing  a  song  as  he 
could,  or  tell  such  a  funny  story.  So  they 
flattered  and  coaxed  him  on  till  he  spent 
every  cent  he  had,  and  now  he's  a  common 
drunkard  and  his  wife  and  children  starving 
poor." 

"  Nonsense !"  said  Grandma  Haynes,  an- 
grily ;  "  how  you  do  take  a  body  up,  Huldy ! 
As  if  I  wanted  our  Dan'l  to  turn  out  such  a 
poor  creetur  as  that  Jethro  Crane !  Why, 
the  very  sight  of  him  sickens  me  when  he 
comes  and  sits  on  the  doorstep  yonder,  with 
his  slouched  hat  pulled  over  his  bleary  eyes, 
and  asks  for  a  penny  to  buy  him  some  bread, 
which  is  another  name  with  him  for  whisky. 
But  there's  reason  in  all  things ;  and  for  my 


24 


WAT  ADAMS, 


part,  I  don't  like  to  see  a  man  hanging  round 
the  house  and  being  in  the  way  half  the 
time,  besides  being  so  fussy  about  an  old 
book  or  paper  if  one  chances  to  take  a  bit  to 
set  the  fire  a-going." 

"  Why,  mother,  how  can  you  say  so  ?" 
cried  Huldah,  who,  mild  as  she  was,  loved 
her  husband  far  too  well  not  to  stand  up  for 
his  rights ;  "  Daniel  is  never  in  the  way,  as  I 
know  of,  and  to  my  liking  I'd  rather  have  him 
here  of  nights  reading  out  loud  to  me  while 
I  sew  or  knit  than  see  the  best  sight  that 
was  to  be  had  for  money.  I  only  hope  little 
Wat  will  grow  up  to  resemble  his  father ;  I 
could  not  wish  him  a  better  wish." 

Grandma  Haynes  sniffed  contemptuous- 
ly at  this  speech.  But  she  had  learned  by 
experience  that  the  gentlest  of  women  will 
sometimes  lose  patience  under  undue  prov- 
ocation. So  she  went  to  pick  up  little 
Wat  out  of  the  dirt,  where  he  was  mak- 
ing sand-pies  with  his  sister  Keziah,  and 
administering  first  a  slap,  and  afterward  a 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


25 


lump  of  sugar  by  way  of  compensation,  put 
on  liim  a  clean  frock  and  pinafore,  and  then 
set  to  work  briskly  making  batter-cakes  for 
supper.  • 

But  Grandma  Haynes,  although  she  man- 
aged the  household  to  perfection,  and  her 
daughter  Huldah  into  the  bargain,  could  not 
control  the  inevitable  tendency  of  her  young 
grandson  to  what  she  disparagingly  termed 
"  that  hateful  book-larnin'."  From  the  time 
he  could  toddle  across  the  room  his  favorite 
plaything  was  a  book ;  and  once  allowed  to 
possess  himself  of  it,  he  would  sit  content- 
edly on  the  floor,  and  turn  the  leaves  for  an 
hour  at  a  time  without  giving  any  further 
trouble,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  his  sister 
Keziah,  who  delighted  much  more  in  play 
than  in  books. 

When  little  Wat  was  five  years  old,  he 
could  read  quite  well,  and  seemed  to  under- 
stand what  he  read,  although  his  sole  teacher 
was  his  father,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
hurried  lessons  given  once  in  a  while  by  his 


26 


WAT  ADAMS, 


mother  when  Grandma  Haynes  had  gone  to 
call  on  a  neighbor,  which  was  a  rare  chance, 
as  she  seldom  allowed  herself  time  for  useless 
visiting. 

Not  that  the  old  lady  wished  her  grand- 
son to  grow  up  entirely  ignorant  of  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  English  language,  but  she 
scorned  the  idea  of  such  a  "  mere  baby " 
learning  to  read.  And  when  the  proper  time 
should  arrive,  she  thought  the  bare  rudiments 
would  be  quite  sufficient.  He  ought  to  be 
able  to  read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible  without 
much  spelling,  write  a  fair  hand  and  cipher 
as  far  as  long  division  ;  which  qualifications 
she  deemed  all  that  w^as  necessary  to  make  a 
useful  man  of  him. 

In  one  of  his  occasional  visits  to  the  mar- 
ket-town with  a  load  of  flour,  the  miller  pur- 
chased and  brought  home  to  his  little  son  a 
copy  of  "  The  New  England  Primer,"  now 
becoming  so  scarce  as  to  be  looked  upon  as 
a  relic. 

The  child  was  delighted  with  this  present, 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  27 

and  soon  mastered  all  those  quaint  and  inim- 
itable rhymes  that  are  intended  to  fix  in 
the  juvenile  memory  all  the  letters  of  the 
alphabet,  beginning  with  the  orthodox  lines, 

"  In  Adam's  fall 
We  sinned  all," 

and  ending  with  the  triplet, 

"Zaccheus,  he 
Did  climb  the  tree 
His  Lord  to  see." 

Even  Grandma  Haynes  unbent  her  brows 
as  she  listened  to  the  measured  jingle  of  the 
time-honored  words,  for  they  brought  back 
to  her  remembrance  the  clays  of  her  youth ; 
and  besides,  such  as  were  on  sacred  subjects 
wrere  of  sound  scriptural  theology,  and  so 
entitled  to  her  reverence.  She  even  made 
no  complaint  when  she  found  little  Wat  one 
day  trying  to  imitate  some  of  the  rude  wood- 
cuts with  a  piece  of  coal  on  her  newly- 
scrubbed  flags,  although  on  any  other  occa- 
sion she  would  have  rewarded  his  artistic 
attempts  with  a  sound  rap  over  the  knuckles. 


2S 


WAT  ADAMS. 


Another  time  Wat's  father,  with  his  strong 
partiality  for  his  favorite  Franklin,  present- 
ed him  with  "  Poor  Richard's  Almanac/' 
which  so  pleased  the  little  boy  that  he  was 
never  weary  of  repeating  the  old  maxims 
with  which  it  abounded.  The  miller,  too,  had 
a  goodly  supply  of  these  wise  saws  ready  for 
all  subjects  ;  so  it  was  no  wonder  that  young 
Wat  grew  up  with  his  mind  stored  with 
quaint  sayings,  their  use  in  a  way  giving  rise 
to  his  name  of  "  Old  Proverbs." 


CHAPTER  III. 

TIME  IS  MONEY. 

HE  old  red  school-house  belonging  to 
the  village  of  Holly  was  one  of  those 
ancient  structures  common  in  the  last 
century,  built  more  for  utility  than 
taste.  The  walls  were  of  rough  unhewn  stone, 
and  it  boasted  a  chimney  nearly  as  large  as 
itself,  run  up  from  the  very  foundation  of 
the  house  and  forming  a  strong  abutment 
on  the  outside.  Within  was  an  immense 
fireplace,  capacious  enough  to  hold  the 
trunk  of  a  large  tree,  but  with  such  a 
draught  that  the  greater  part  of  the  heat 
went  up  the  wide  chimney,  thus  imparting  a 
ruddy  glow  to  the  faces  of  those  young  people 
who  were  so  happy  as  to  be  crowded  in  front 
of  it,  leaving  the  less  fortunate  ones  to  bear 
the  stinging  blasts  that  came  whistling  in 

29 


30  WAT  ADAMS, 

from  the  loosely-hung  window-sashes  and 
ill-fitting  door. 

But  in  summer-time  the  school-house  was 
pleasant  enough,  with  the  light  breezes  sway- 
ing the  pendent  branches  of  the  maples  that 
surrounded  it  and  making  stirring  shadows 
on  the  sanded  floor,  pleasant  with  the  songs 
of  birds  and  hum  of  bees— too  pleasant  for 
tasks  and  enforced  quiet,  and  causing  many 
wistful  glances  to  be  cast  alternately  at  the 
face  of  the  teacher  and  the  noon-mark  on 
the  floor,  so  as  to  ascertain  how  soon  the 
moment  would  arrive  for  release  from  books 
and  freedom  to  rove  the  woods  and  wilds  in 
search  of  amusement. 

On  one  of  these  bright  days  a  group  of 
boys  was  seated  on  the  bank  of  a  little  stream 
that  went  singing  along  over  the  white  peb- 
bles until  it  was  lost  among  the  moss  and 
ferns"  of  the  forest.  Some  of  the  smaller  lads 
had  launched  tiny  boats,  made  with  their 
pocket-knives  and  furnished  with  rudders 
and  sails.    These  they  watched  as  intentlv 


The  Young  Machinist. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


31 


as  though  they  were  precious  argosies  freight- 
ed with  gold  and  gems.  But  the  older  boys 
had  gathered  about  one  particular  spot  where 
a  little  fellow,  much  younger  than  they,  had 
set  a  miniature  water-wheel  which  turned  the 
model  of  a  mill,  and  was  viewed  by  them  all 
with  considerable  interest  and  curiosity. 

As  the  young  machinist  raised  his  head  to 
answer  the  questions  of  his  companions  one 
might  recognize  in  the  bright  eyes  and  broad, 
smooth  brow,  framed  in  by  chestnut  curls, 
the  miller's  son,  little  Wat  Adams. 

When  his  work  was  quite  complete  and 
the  wheel  moved  with  steady,  even  strokes,  the 
boy  rose  to  his  feet,  and  clasping  his  hands 
above  his  head  cried  out  exultingly, 

"There !  I  knew  I  could  do  it  if  I  tried ; 
and  6  try  never  was  beat.'  " 

"  How  long  did  it  take  you  to  do  it,  Wat  ?" 
asked  several  of  the  boys  as  they  crowded 
around  him. 

"Oh,  I  don't  know;  little  bits  of  time 
when  I  could  be  spared  from  work.  For 


32 


WAT  ADAMS, 


you  see  I  have  work  to  do  when  I  am  out  of 
school.  I  have  errands  to  run  for  my  father, 
and  I  help  him  sometimes  in  the  mill.  Then 
grandma  calls  me  to  split  up  the  kindlings 
and  fill  the  box  with  wood  and  bring  water 
for  the  boilers." 

"  And  sometimes  you  set  the  table  and 
pare  the  potatoes  and  clean  the  knives  and 
wash  the  dishes/'  said  one  of  the  boys,  sneer- 
ingly,  as  he  raised  himself  from  the  grassy 
bank,  where  he  had  been  lying  at  full  length, 
seemingly  absorbed  in  the  contents  of  a 
soiled  yellow-covered  volume. 

Wat  Adams  colored  up  at  that  attack,  but 
he  answered  right  manfully  : 

"  Yes,  Phil  Graham,  I  sometimes  do  just 
those  very  things,  for  mother  is  very  sick  and 
grandma  and  Kizzy  have  so  much  to  do. 
But  I  am  not  ashamed  of  it  in  the  least." 

"  You  ought  to  be,  then,  drudging  in  the 
kitchen  like  a  girl.  I'd  like  to  see  any  one 
ask  me  to  turn  scullion  after  I've  been  fag- 
ging in  school  all  day." 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


33 


"  You  fagging  !"  exclaimed  Frank  Harris, 
one  of  the  oldest  of  the  boys.  "  Why,  Phil, 
you  never  have  a  lesson  ready  to  recite,  and 
you  are  kept  in  half  the  time  to  study  over 
what  you  ought  to  have  known  perfectly  at 
first.  It's  a  wonder  to  me  how  you  got  out 
this  time." 

"Don't  you  know?'7  said  one  of  the  other 
lads.  "  Mr.  Harvey  was  sent  for  to  go  and 
see  Jack  Morgan,  who  fell  from  the  cherry 
tree  last  spring.  They  say  he  received  some 
interna]  hurt  and  will  never  be  well  again. 
Jack  wanted  to  see  the  teacher,  so  there  had 
to  be  a  general  jail-delivery,  and  that  is  the 
reason  our  friend  Phil  and  some  others  are 
roaming  at  large  just  now." 

There  was  a  loud  laugh  at  this  among  the 
boys ;  but  Phil  Graham,  in  no  wise  ashamed 
of  its  being  at  his  expense,  turned  over  lazily 
to  resume  the  perusal  of  his  fascinating  book. 

"  Let's  see  what  he  is  reading,"  cried  sev- 
eral of  his  companions,  throwing  themselves 
down  beside  him. 


34 


WAT  ADAMS, 


"  Not  his  Latin  grammar,  I'll  be  bound/' 
said  one. 

"  Nor  his  catechism,  either,"  chimed  in 
Frank  Harris,  snatching  the  book  from 
Philip's  hand.  "  Look,  boys  !  did  you  ever 
see  the  beat  of  this  ?  A  trashy  yellow-cov- 
ered novel  brought  right  into  Mr.  Harvey's 
school,  when  he  has  talked  to  us  so  much 
about  them !  I  wonder  what  he  would  say  if 
he  knew  it?" 

"  You'll  tell  him,  I  suppose,"  said  Graham, 
sullenly. 

"No,  I  sha'n't.  I'm  not  a  telltale;  and 
besides,  it's  none  of  my  business.  But  I'd 
like  to  know  how  you  manage  to  keep  him 
from  seeing  it." 

"  Oh,  nothing  more  easy  than  to  have  two 
books,  one  inside  the  other.  And  Mr.  Har- 
vey is  a  little  near-sighted,  you  know.  Do 
you  think  I'd  care  to  be  kept  in  so  much  if 
I  hadn't  such  a  book  as  this  to  pass  away  the 
time  ?  And  there's  plenty  more  where  this 
one  came  from.    I  have  lots  £>f  them  hidden 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


35 


away  in  the  barn.  I  read  them  at  night 
when  father  thinks  I  am  studying." 

Little  Wat  could  bear  this  conversation  no 
longer.  He  had  been  standing  on  the  out- 
side of  the  group,  clasping  and  unclasping 
his  small  hands  in  a  nervous  way.  Now  he 
confronted  the  indolent  Philip,  his  eyes  hiaz- 
ing  with  excitement : 

"  I  wonder  at  you,  Philip  Graham,  to  talk 
so  !    I  wouldn't  be  a  thief  for  the  world." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that,  you  young 
rascal  ?"  cried  Philip,  starting  to  his  feet  and 
clenching  both  his  fists  as  he  advanced  on 
little  Wat  in  a  threatening  manner. 

Philip  Graham  was  twice  as  large  as  the 
miller's  son,  and  could  have  punished  him 
severely  if  they  had  come  to  blows.  But 
Wat  never  flinched,  although  his  cheek 
paled  a  little  and  he  drew  his  breath  hard. 

Just  at  this  critical  moment  Frank  Harris 
stepped  between  the  two  lads : 

"  You  sha'n't  hurt  him,  Phil.  If  you  want 
to  fight,  take  a^boy  of  your  own  size.  It's 


WAT  ADAMS, 


mean  and  cowardly  for  a  big  fellow  like  you 
to  strike  such  a  little  chap." 

"  I  don't  want  to  fight  him/'  said  Graham, 
a  little  ashamed  of  himself;  "but  he  must 
take  back  his  words.  What  business  had  he 
to  call  me  a  thief,  I'd  like  to  know  ?" 

%l  didn't  call  you  a  thief,"  said  Wat. 
"  I  only  said  I  wouldn't  be  one  for  the  world." 

"  But  you  meant  me,  you  know  you  did. 
Now,  what  did  I  ever  steal  ?  Tell  me  that, 
will  you?" 

"  I  meant  that  you  took  time  that  was  not 
your  own.  You  w^aste  and  misuse  the  time 
your  father  gives  you  for  learning  by  not 
improving  every  moment  you  have  for  study. 
You  take  Mr.  Harvey's  time,  and  God's  time 
too  ;  for  father  says  time  is  one  of  the  talents 
he  gives  us." 

"  Was  there  ever  such  a  little  old  fogy  ?" 
"exclaimed  Graham,  contemptuously.  "Why, 
you  have  made  quite  a  sermon  out  of  it. 
Have  you  anything  more  to  say,  good  Master 
Proverbs?"  f 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


37 


"  Yes,"  said  Wat.  "  Time  is  like  money  ; 
it  is  made  up  of  little  moments,  just  as  a 
dollar  is  made  up  of  pennies.  We  must  take 
care  of  the  little  sums,  or  else  we  shall  never 
have  large  ones.  6  If  we  lose  an  hour's  time 
in  the  morning,  we  shall  have  to  run  after  it 
all  day,  and  not  catch  up  with  it,  after  all/ 
'  Time  once  spent  never  returns.' " 

"  That's  so,"  said  Philip,  laughing ;  "  and 
'  time  cuts  down  all,  both  great  and  small ;'  so 
I  think  I  am  even  with  you,  Old  Proverbs, 
for  that  is  the  end  of  the  whole  matter." 

"Old  Proverbs!  Old  Proverbs!"  shouted 
the  smaller  boys,  glad  of  the  new  nickname; 
for  what  boy  does  not  delight  in  fixing  on 
some  annoying  appellation  for  his  compan- 
ions, especially  if  it  has  "old"  prefixed  to 
it  ?  Why  "  old  fellow,"  "  old  fogy  "  or  "  old 
proverbs  "  should  be  particularly  applicable 
to  a  youthful  associate  is  one  of  the  mysteries 
peculiar  to  the  craft  of  school-boys. 


t 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ALL  PLAY  AND  NO  WORK. 

AT  was  joined  in  his  walk  homeward 
that  afternoon  by  his  indolent  school- 
mate Philip  Graham.  Their  paths 
led  together  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, but  the  larger  boy  had  never  before 
chosen  to  take  any  notice  of  the  miller's  son, 
either  because  he  thought  he  was  too  young 
for  a  companion  or  his  mind  was  taken  up 
with  the  scenes  and  characters  of  the  ficti- 
tious narratives  that  so  engrossed  his  atten- 
tion and  excited  his  imagination. 

But  he  seemed  to  have  awakened  to  the 
discovery  that  there  was  something  in  Wat 
not  to  be  despised,  after  all.  He  had  stood  the 
brunt  of  his  wrath,  although  older  boys  than 
he  were  afraid  of  his  sledge-hammer  fists ; 
for  Graham,  when  once  aroused  from  his 
lazy  habits,  was  a  lion  in  temper,  and  had 

38 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  39 

long  been  the  bully  of  the  school,  oppress- 
ing the  smaller  boys  at  his  pleasure  and 
ready  to  fight  his  equals  on  all  occasions. 
Besides,  he  had  evidently  some  reason  of  his 
own  for  being  on  good  terms  with  Wat. 

"  I  say/'  he  remarked  as  they  went  along, 
"  that's  a  nice  little  mill  you  have  there, 
Adams." 

Wat  twirled  the  miniature  wheel  of  the 
model  he  was  carrying  upder  his  arm  with 
a  complacent  look  and  smile  that  seemed  to 
say, 

"  I  think  it  is." 

"  But,  after  all,  it's  not  in  my  line,"  con- 
tinued Philip,  yawning  ;  "  I  wouldn't  give  a 
page  of  this  book  I  have  in  my  pocket  for 
all  your  models  and  machines." 

"  Father  says  it's  the  way  to  make  a  good 
mechanic,  though,  to  try  and  make  little 
things  for  ourselves,"  spoke  up  Wat,  with 
spirit.  "  I  was  reading  the  other  night  about 
a  great  man  named  Newton  who  made  some 
of  the  most  useful  discoveries  in  science ;  and 


40 


WAT  ADAMS, 


when  he  was  a  boy,  he  was  always  inventing 
and  contriving.  He  made  a  little  clock  that 
was  moved  by  water  and  kept  very  good 
time.  Afterward  he  became  a  celebrated  as- 
tronomer." 

"  What's  that  ?"  asked  Philip^  with  a  stu- 
pid look. 

"  Why,  don't  you  know  ?  I'm  not  near  so 
far  on  as  you  are,  and  yet  I  know  that  aster 
means  star,  and  one  who  understands  the 
laws  that  govern  the  heavenly  bodies  is 
called  an  astronomer." 

Philip  turned  a  dull,  wondering  look 
on  his  little  companion.  He  felt  a  growing 
respect  for  him,  the  tribute  that  matter 
always  pays  to  mind, 

"  You  know  heaps,  don't  you  ?"  he  said 
after  a  while. 

"  Oh  no,"  laughed  Wat ;  "  I  am  only  a 
little  boy,  and  I  can't  be  expected  to  know 
much.  But  I  want  to  learn  a  great  many 
things,  and  as  I  grow  older  I  shall  try  to 
study  and  become  wiser.    Father  tells  me  a 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


41 


great  deal,  and  then  I  gain  so  much  by  read- 
ing;  I  love  to  read  dearly." 

"  Why,  so  do  I,"  cried  Philip,  brightening. 
"  Let  me  see  ;  if  you'll  come  home  with  me, 
I'll  show  you  all  my  books,  and  lend  you 
some  if  you  like." 

"  Will  you  ?"  said  Wat,  giving  a  quick 
little  jump  for  joy;  "that  will  be  nice." 
But  hesitating  as  he  remembered  the  scene 
of  that  afternoon,  he  inquired,  cautiously, 
"  What  kind  of  books  have  you,  Philip  ?" 

"  Oh,  first-rate  ones.  Did  you  ever  read 
Robinson  Crusoe?"  asked  Philip,  who  was 
too  wary  to  scare  his  companion  with  the 
titles  of  some  of  his  more  exceptionable 
volumes. 

"  No,  but  I'd  like  to  so  much.  Father  told 
me  the  story  and  promised  to  buy  it  for  me 
some  time.  It  is  about  a  man  who  was 
wrecked  on  a  desert  island,  and  built  him- 
self a  house  and  lived  there  all  alone  with 
his  parrots  and  goats  until  he  got  his  man 
Friday  for  a  companion.    I  should  be  so 


42 


WAT  ADAMS, 


much  obliged  to  you  if  you  would  let  me 
read  it,  Philip/'  concluded  Wat,  with  spark- 
ling eyes. 

"  Well,  maybe  I  will,  if  you  will  promise 
me  one  thing/1  said  Graham. 

"What  is  it?  If  I  can,  I  will/'  said  the 
little  boy,  eagerly. 

"  Oh,  you  can  do  it  well  enough,  and  it's 
such  a  little  thing  too,"  rejoined  his  com- 
panion. 

But  he  evidently  hesitated  to  make  his 
wishes  known.  At  last,  after  clearing  his 
throat  several  times,  he  went  on,  slightly 
turning  his  face  from  Wat's  keen  eyes  as  he 
did  so,  under  the  pretence  of  watching  a 
ground-squirrel  skip  into  his  hole  under  the 
fence  : 

"  Well,  it's  only  this,  and  it's  no  such 
mighty  matter  after  all :  Just  you  hold  my 
book  open  before  me  the  next  time  my  class 
goes  up  to  recite.  As  you  sit  on  the  lower 
bench,  you  can  easily  enough  do  it,  and  no 
one  will  be  the  wiser." 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


43 


"But  it  wouldn't  be  -right/'  cried  Wat, 
indignantly ;  "  it  would  be  wrong  for  me  to 
do  it,  and  wrong  for  you  to  cheat  yourself 
and  Mr.  Harvey.  6  Two  wrongs  don't  make 
a  right,'  anyhow  you  can  fix  it." 

"  There  you  are  again  with  your  musty 
sayings,  Old  Proverbs,"  answered  Philip, 
angrily  ;  "  I  might  have  known  better  than  to 
ask  a  favor  of  you.  But  if  you  are  so  dis- 
obliging, you  need  not  expect  to  have  the 
loan  of  my  Robinson  Crusoe." 

Poor  little  Wat  was  sadly  disappointed. 
He  had  fully  reckoned  on  his  schoolmate 
keeping  his  promise,  and  he  had  so  much 
wanted  to  read  that  particular  book,  ever 
since  he  had  listened  to  the  glowing  descrip- 
tions his  father  had  given  him  of  the  fasci- 
nating Crusoe  life.  His  mother's  long  illness 
he  knew  had  caused  many  more  expenses  in 
the  family,  for  Grandma  Haynes  was  getting 
too  old  to  do  all  the  household  work,  and 
Keziah,  besides  the  domestic  sewing,  was  re- 
quired to  wait  on  the  invalid  a  good  deal. 


44 


WAT  AD A11S, 


So  for  the  last  few  weeks  the  services  of -a 
maid-of-all-work  were  considered  indispensa- 
ble, and  Wat  felt  sure  that  it  would  be  a  very 
inauspicious  time  to  ask  for  the  purchase  of 
a  new  book.  Yet  he  was  determined  not  to 
do  wrong  for  the  sake  even  of  his  favorite 
indulgence. 

The  two  boys  walked  for  a  time  in  silence, 
each  busy  with  his  own  reflections.  At  last 
Wat  ventured  to  make  a  proposition  to  his 
moody  companion  : 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I  will  do,  Philip  :  I'll 
study  harder  and  try  to  help  you  with  your 
lessons.  Only  won't  you  promise  to  do  a 
little  yourself?  If  I  look  out  all  the  hard 
words  in  the  dictionary  for  you,  won't  you 
try  to  learn  them  ?" 

"  Well,  you  are  a  good  little  soul !"  ex- 
claimed his  schoolmate,  quite  overcome  with 
the  little  boy's  gentleness  and  persistence  in 
avoiding  wrong-doing ;  "  I'll  promise  what- 
ever you  like.  And  I  don't  mind  telling  you 
that  I  want  to  turn  over  a  new  leaf.  I'm 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


45 


tfred  of  being  called  the  dunce  of  the  school 
and  having  even  the  little  boys  twitting  me 
with  being  kept  in  every  day.  I  know  I  can 
do  better  if  I  try." 

*  Oh  how  glad  I  am  !"  cried  Wat.  "  Yes, 
I'm  sure  you  can  do  better,  Philip,  if  you 
try.  You  remember  what  I  said  to-day : 
1  Try  never  was  beat ;'  and  besides  :  '  God 
helps  those  that  help  themselves.' " 

"  Well,"  rejoined  the  other,  laughing,  "  I'm 
afraid  your  nickname  of  Old  Proverbs  will 
have  to  stick  to  you,  Wat  Adams.  Where 
in  the  world  did  you  ever  meet  with  such  a 
parcel  of  old  sayings  ?" 

"  Oh,  father  tells  them  to  me  ;  and  besides, 
I  have  a  book  at  home  that  is  full  of  them." 

"  Have  you  many  books  of  your  own  ?" 
•went  on  Philip  Graham,  who  seemed  greatly 
amused  with  the  old-fashioned  little  boy 
trudging  along  by  his  side. 

"  Oh  yes ;  but  I  have  read  them  all  so  of- 
ten I  almost  know  them  by  heart.  There's 
Peter  Parley's  histories  and  the  Polio  books, 


46 


WAT  ADAMS, 


besides  Pilgrim's  Progress.  Did  you  ever 
read  that,  Philip  ?" 

"  No,"  said  his  companion,  after  thinking 
a  while.  Indeed,  that  kind  of  literature  was 
not  likely  to  be  to  his  taste  even  if  he  had 
chanced  to  meet  with  it. 

"  It's  a  grand  old  book,"  went  on  little 
Wat,  with  animation ;  "  grandma  lets  me 
read  it  on  Sundays,  and  I  go  out  under  the 
big  apple  tree  and  have  a  jolly  time.  I  mean 
I  enjoy  it  so  much,  you  know,"  said  the  lad, 
checking  himself  with  the  feeling  that  "jolly  " 
was  not  exactly  the  word  to  use  about  a  re- 
ligious book.  "  It's  all  about  a  man  named 
Christian  who  fought  great  ugly  giants,  and 
how  Giant  Despair  once  shut  him  up  in  a 
dungeon  and  wanted  him  to  be  so  wicked  as 
to  kill  himself." 

"  Whew !  it  must  be  almost  as  entertain- 
ing as  a  fairy-tale,"  exclaimed  Philip. 

"  I  don't  know  what  that  is,"  said  little 
Wat,  demurely. 

"  Have  you  never  read  fairy-tales  ?"  cried 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


47 


the  other,  in  astonishment.  "  Why,  I  can  lend 
you  lots  of  them  when  you're  done  with 
Robinson  Crusoe." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  lend  me  Robinson  Cru- 
soe?" asked  the  younger  boy,  looking  up 
timidly  into  Philip's  face  to  see  if  he  was  in 
earnest. 

"  Of  course  I  do.  I'm  not  angry  with  you, 
now  you've  promised  to  help  me  with  my 
lessons,  you  know." 

"  Then  I'm  very  much  obliged  to  you,  I'm 
sure.  But  about  the  fairy-tales  I  don't  know  ; 
I  would  have  to  ask  father  first.  Perhaps  he 
wouldn't  like  me  to  read  them." 

"  Poh  !  what  nonsense  !  I  never  ask  my 
father  what  I  shall  read  and  what  I  shall 
let  alone.  He  gives  me  money  to  spend,  and 
I  spend  it  the  way  I  please.  But  here  we 
are  at  the  turning.  Come  on,  and  you  shall 
carry  Robinson  Crusoe  home  with  you." 

"  I'd  like  to  very  much,"  said  Wat,  long- 
ingly, "  but  I'm  afraid  I  should  be  late  with 
my  evening  work  if  I  did.     6  Duty  before 


48 


WA  T  ADAMS. 


pleasure/  you  know,"  he  added,  with  a  little 
laugh  as  he  remembered  the  nickname  be- 
stowed on  him  by  his  schoolfellows. 

"  I  hate  the  word  work,"  said  Philip ;  "my 
father  is  rich,  and  don't  want  me  to  do  a  turn. 
We  have  twTo  hired  men  on  the  farm,  besides 
a  gardener  and  a  coachman." 

"  Then  you  have  nothing  to  do  but  sleep 
and  eat  and  play,"  rejoined  Wat.  "Well, 
my  father  is  poor ;  and  6  if  we  would  thrive, 
we  must  strive.' " 

So,  running  merrily  down  the  road  to  the 
mill,  the  little  boy  shouted  laughingly  back 
to  Philip  the  old  couplet, 

"All  play  and  no  work 
Makes  Jack  a  mere  toy." 


CHAPTER  V. 


ALL  WORK  AND  NO  PLAY. 

ITTLE  WAT  was  a  pleased  boy  the 
next  evening  as  he  hastened  home, 
with  Philip  Graham's  copy  of  Robin- 
son Crusoe  under  his  arm.  It  was 
embellished  with  rough  wood-cuts,  and  he 
stopped  to  peep  into  it  more  than  once  and 
wonder  what  they  were  about. 

He  first  ran  into  the  mill  to  display  his 
treasure  to  his  father,  but  was  disappointed 
to  find  him  too  busy  to  attend  to  him,  and 
still  more  so  to  be  sent  on  various  errands 
and  set  to  many  little  employments,  which 
consumed  the  twilight  hours  that  he  had 
reckoned  so  much  on  for  commencing  this 
long-coveted  volume. 

It  was  his  usual  custom  on  returning  from 
school,  when  he  was  not  wanted  in  the  house, 

4  49 


50 


WAT  ADAMS, 


to  shut  himself  up  in  the  little  mill-room 
and  either  study  his  lessons  or  read  his  favor- 
ite books.  So  he  felt  quite  in  an  ill-humor 
when  all  was  over  and  he  followed  his  father 
to  the  house,  where  supper  was  waiting  for 
them.  It  really  seemed  to  him  as  if  every- 
thing had  happened  at  cross-purposes  just  to 
vex  him. 

The  days  were  bright  at  that  season  of  the 
year,  but  the  evening  had  closed  in  with  just 
enough  chilliness  to  make  the  open  fire  on  the 
kitchen  hearth  look  pleasant  and  inviting  as 
the  miller  threw  the  door  wide  open,  then 
paused  to  shake  the  dust  from  his  coat  and 
hat  before  stepping  into  the  little  bedroom 
to  say  a  few  cheering  words  to  his  sick  wife. 

Huldah  had  been  slowly  declining  for  some 
years.  Another  fair  pale  blossom  had  lain 
on  her  bosom  since  the  birth  of  our  little 
Wat,  but  it  soon  sickened  and  died,  and  then 
the  mother's  life  seemed  to  fade  out  with  it. 
Although  there  was  not  much  visible  ailment, 
she  lost  flesh  and  strength,  appeared  to  have 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


51 


no  heart  in  her  usual  quiet  duties,  and  then 
gave  them  up  altogether. 

"  Her  father  died  of  consumption/'  Grand- 
ma Haynes  whispered,  mysteriously,  on  one 
occasion ;  "  it  runs  in  the  Haynes  blood.  I 
alius  thought  Huldy  would  outgrow  it,  but 
she  must  come  to  it  sooner  or  later,  I  suppose. 
Ten  to  one  if  you  raise  little  Wat,  Dan'l  ; 
he's  narrer-chisted  and  a  bit  round-shoul- 
dered, like  his  mother." 

"  God's  will  be  done,"  groaned  the  father 
as  he  drew  his  little  son  into  his  arms  and 
strained  him  closely  to  his  loving  heart;  "let 
him  do  what  seemeth  him  good.  I  only  ask 
that  my  boy  may  be  a  child  of  grace  and  an 
heir  of  the  kingdom  of  glory." 

Grandma  Haynes  was  always  silenced 
when  her  son-in-law  "  talked  religion,"  as 
she  termed  it.  She  herself  "hadn't  a  gift 
that  wTay,"  she  was  wont  to  remark,  "and 
somehow  she  thought  it  was  making  sacred 
things  too  common  to  bring  them  into  every- 
day conversation."    She  forgot  how  "  they 


52 


WAT  ADAMS, 


that  feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one  to 
another,  and  the  Lord  hearkened  and  heard 
it,  and  a  book  of  remembrance  was  written 
before  him  for  them  that  feared  the  Lord, 
and  that  thought  upon  his  name."  Also 
that  when  the  two  disciples  were  walking  to- 
gether on  the  road  to  Emmaus  and  talked 
about  Jesus  and  the  resurrection,  the  Lord 
himself  drew  near  and  opened  to  them  the 
Scriptures,  so  that  their  hearts  burned  within 
them  by  the  way. 

The  old  lady  had  changed  but  very  little 
in  disposition  during  the  twelve  years  that 
had  passed  since  young  Wat  was  introduced 
into  the  family  circle,  but  she  had  failed 
considerably  in  her  physical  powers.  She 
was  no  longer  the  alert,  bustling  housekeeper 
she  had  been.  But  she  was  still  as  rigid  a 
disciplinarian  as  ever,  still  as  uncompromis- 
ing and  inflexible  in  her  opinions  and  habits. 

She  was  seated  in  her  usual  high-backed, 
cushioned  arm-chair  on  this  particular  even- 
ing, peering  over   her   grpat  iron-rimmed 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


53 


spectacles  to  see  that  there  should  be  no  mis- 
management in  the  preparations  for  supper. 
Jemima  Berry  had  a  hard  time  of  it  with 
those  keen  and  watchful  eyes  measuring 
every  speck  of  butter  or  drippings  she  used 
in  her  gravies,  and  calculating  to  a  thimbleful 
how  much  flour  should  go  to  the  making  of 
her  bread  or  pies.  It  was  Grandma  Haynes' 
opinion  that  the  scrapings  of  the  dough- 
trough  made  holes  in  the  good  man's  pocket, 
even  if  he  were  the  miller  and  had  the  toll 
as  his  honest  due. 

Keziah,  too,  came  in  for  a  share  of  this 
vigilant  oversight,  being  kept  to  her  "  stent," 
as  her  grandmother  called  her  task  of  sew- 
ing or  knitting,  until  the  poor  wearied  girl, 
who  had  scarcely  reached  her  sixteenth  year, 
was  often  glad  when  the  clock  struck  early 
bedtime,  so  that  she  could  creep  away  to  her 
little  room  and  lose  herself  in  dreamless 
slumbers.  Her  sole  enjoyment  was  when  her 
little  brother  came  home  from  school  in  ^e 
evening.    Then  the  two  would  seat  them- 


WAT  ADAMS, 


selves  iii  the  furthest  corner  of  the  large 
kitchen,  where  they  could  be  safe  from 
Grandma  Haynes'  inspection,  Keziah's  knit- 
ting needles  flying  quick  and  sharp  while 
Wat  recounted  to  her  the  adventures  of  the 
day  or  read  in  subdued  tones  choice  bits  from 
his  favorite  books. 

He  had  reckoned  on  Keziah's  sharing  the 
delightful  pages  of  Robinson  Crusoe  with 
him  that  evening ;  but  when  supper  was 
over  and  she  had  helped  Jemima  to  wash 
and  set  away  the  dishes,  she  whispered  to 
him  that  this  was  "  ironing-night,"  Grand- 
ma Haynes  insisting  that  the  clothes  were 
easiest  smoothed  when  they  were  just  fresh 
from  the  dew. 

As  this  operation  was  generally  performed 
in  an  outer  kitchen  or  shed,  where  the 
smoothing-irons  were  heated  on  a  portable 
furnace,  Wat  was  better  pleased  than  other- 
wise with  this  arrangement ;  for  Jemima  being 
a  good-tempered  girl,  and  what  the  children 
called  funny,  he  and  Keziah  had  often  had 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


55 


very  good  times  on  ironing-niglit  as  he 
read  aloud  to  them  while  they  worked  or 
listened  to  Jemima's  droll  and  entertaining 
stories. 

But  the  cross-purposes  that  had  begun  to 
annoy  poor  Wat  on  his  reaching  home  that 
evening  were  destined  to  trip  him  up  at 
every  turn.  He  had  taken  his  book  up 
eagerly,  and  was  leaving  the  room  as  quietly 
as  possible,  when  Grandma  Haynes  called 
him  back  and  desired  that  he  would  learn 
his  lessons  in  the  kitchen,  as  his  mother  had 
a  bad  headache  and  must  not  be  disturbed 
on  any  account. 

"  But  I  have  learned  my  lessons  for  to- 
morrow, grandma,"  pleaded  Wat ;  "  I  learned 
them  all  at  noon  recess,  so  that  I  might  have 
time  to  read  this  beautiful  book,  and  I  want 
to  read  it  to  Kizzie.  Do,  grandma,  let  me ;  I 
won't  make  the  least  bit  of  noise ;  you  see  if 
I  do." 

The  little  boy  regretted  the  next  moment 
that  he  had  mentioned  the  book  and  ac- 


56 


WAT  ADAMS, 


knowledged  that  he  was  free  from  lessons; 
for  immediately  Grandma  Haynes  twitched 
the  volume  from  his  hand,  and  placing  it  on 
a  high  shelf  out  of  his  reach  brought  forth 
a  bushel  basket  of  apples  from  a  corner  of 
the  kitchen  and  told  Wat  to  sit  down  on 
his  stool  and  prepare  them  for  drying. 

His  father  had  left  the  house  after  supper 
and  gone  back  to  the  mill,  and  besides  there 
was  no  appeal  from  Grandma  Haynes'  au- 
thority at  any  time,  so  Wat  could  do  noth- 
ing but  obey.  But  as  he  slowdy  and  grudg- 
ingly performed  his  task  many  rebellious 
thoughts  arose  in  his  mind.  He  remember- 
ed what  Philip  Graham  had  said  about  his 
having  no  wrork  to  do,  while  he,  as  he 
thought,  had  "  all  work  and  no  play ;"  he 
envied  the  rich  man's  son,  and  wTas  tempted 
to  think  himself  hardly  dealt  with. 

Little  Wat  wras  very  wrong  in  this,  for 
he  had  many  opportunities  of  leisure,  which, 
to  be  sure,  he  imj>roved  for  the  most  part  in 
the  best  manner.    And  Grandma  Haynes 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


r>7 


did  not  mean  to  be  unkind,  although  she  was 
sometimes  injudicious  in  her  strict  discipline. 
She  had  always  been  used  to  work  herself, 
and  thought  young  people  ought  to  be 
trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift. 
Besides,  she  could  not  understand  "  what  on 
earth  people  wanted  of  reading  except  on  a 
Sunday,  when  of  course  they  must  rest  from 
their  labors,  according  to  the  commandments, 
and  might  as  well  be  poring  over  a  book  as 
doing  nothing." 

For  the  first  time  Wat  went  to  his  little 
bed  in  the  kitchen  loft  without  a  good-night 
kiss  from  his  poor  sick  mother,  or  the  gentle 
touch  of  her  soft  hand  on  his  brow,  which 
always  seemed  to  him  like  a  blessing.  For 
the  first  time  he  laid  down  prayerless  and 
unmindful  of  the  many  blessings  God  had 
given  him.  But  in  the  silent  hours  of  the 
night,  as  he  tossed  about  restless  and  un- 
happy, the  still,  small  voice  of  conscience 
made  itself  heard,  and  he  felt  that  he  had 
been  doing  wrong.    So  the  day  that  had 


58 


WAT  ADAMS. 


dawned  with  such  bright  promises  and  with 
such  good  intentions  finished  in  gloom  and 
repentance. 

"  111  had  ended  what  well  begun  ; 
Into  the  shadow  out  of  the  sun." 


CHAPTER  VI. 
ONE  TO-BAY  IS  WORTH  TWO  TO-MORROWS. 

AT,"  called  his  father  as  the  boy 
gathered  up  his  books  the  next 
morning  preparatory  to  starting  for 
school,  "  I  want  you  to  go  over  to 
Squire  Hoskins'  at  noon  and  tell  him  I  have 
made  up  my  mind  to  buy  that  lot  of  wheat 
he  was  talking  about  to  me  the  other  day. 
I  hear  that  flour  is  rising  in  the  market,  and 
I'd  like  to  be  ready  to  pack  down  some  dozens 
of  barrels  before  it  falls  again." 

"Won't  to-morrow  do  as  well,  father?" 
asked  the  little  boy,  in  a  complaining,  listless 
tone  very  unlike  his  usual  brisk  manner. 
For  although  he  had  been  sorry  for  his  ill- 
temper  the  night  before,  that  morning's  sun 
had  not  brought  forth  the  fruits  of  repent- 
ance, and  he  still  felt  aggrieved  and  rebel- 

59 


60 


WAT  ADAMS, 


lions,  like  a  dull  Jack  that  has  had  no  play 
after  his  work. 

"By  no  means/'  said  the  miller,  looking 
curiously  at  his  son,  as  if  he  almost  doubted 
his  identity  with  the  cheerful,  bright-eyed 
little  boy  always  so  ready  to  do  his  bidding. 
"  And  besides,"  he  continued,  "  don't  you 
know  the  old  saying,  'If  you  have  any- 
thing to  do  to-morrow,  do  it  to-day'  ?  which  to 
my  mind  means  that  instead  of  putting  off 
things  to  some  future  moment  we  should  try 
to  accomplish  them  at  once.  So  don't  fail  to 
do  my  errand  to  Squire  Hoskins ;  and  be  a 
good  boy,  Wat,  my  son." 

Ever  since  the  little  boy  could  remember, 
his  father  had  always  dismissed  him  to  school 
with  this  exhortation.  Perhaps  it  was  a 
habit  or  mere  words  of  course,  but  Wat  had 
always  rejoiced  in  the  repetition  and  inwardly 
resolved  to  try  with  all  his  might  to  fulfill  his 
father's  wish.  But  somehow  that  morning  it 
chafed  and  angered  Wat— he  could  hardly 
have  told  why — to  have  his  father  speak  to 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


him  thus,  and  he  turned  away  sullenly  with- 
out answering. 

To  make  matters  worse,  he  was  late  at 
school  that  morning,  having  lingered  in  a 
shady  grove  to  read  a  few  pages  of  the 
famous  Crusoe  book.  He  found  the  tale  so 
interesting  that  the  second  bell  startled  him 
before  he  was  aware,  and  he  was  forced  to 
run  every  step  of  the  way,  only  to  be  disap- 
pointed at  last  by  seeing  his  class  called  up 
to  recite  and  being  obliged  to  take  the  foot 
instead  of  the  head,  which  latter  position  he 
had  earned  by  hard  study  and  kept  honor- 
ably during  the  whole  of  the  term. 

Flurried  and  mortified  at  being  thus  dis- 
graced, Wat  made  several  mistakes  in  his 
lessons,  and  was  punished  by  sharing  the 
captivity  of  the  dunces  and  laggards  of  the 
school  at  the  usual  noon  recess.  But  as  he 
was  generally  a  punctual  scholar  and  seldom 
failed  in  his  recitations,  Mr.  Harvey  kindly 
allowed  him  to  leave  the  school-room  as 
soon  as  he  had  repeated  his  lessons  perfectly, 


62 


WAT  ADAMS, 


so  that,  after  all,  he  had  plenty  of  time  to  do 
his  father's  errand  to  Squire  Hoskins. 

He  was  crossing  the  playground  with  the 
intention  of  hurrying  past  unseen  by  his 
schoolfellows — for  Wat  was  a  general  favorite 
with  them  all,  not  only  because  he  created 
a  fund  of  amusement  for  them  with  his 
quaint  sayings  and  old-fashioned  manners, 
but  on  account  of  the  natural  courtesy  and 
politeness  with  which  he  treated  every  one, 
from  the  teacher,  Mr.  Harvey,  down  to  the 
smallest  boy  in  the  school — but  just  as  he 
reached  the  outer  skirt  of  the  grove  of  ma- 
ples, Philip  Graham,  who  was  seated  in  the 
shade  of  one  of  the  large  trees  with  his 
books  scattered  about  him,  called  out  in  an 
entreating  tone, 

"  Come,  Old  Proverbs !  I  am  wanting  you 
here  sadly.  This  is  about  the  hardest  lesson 
I  ever  tried  to  learn.  I  was  never  more  pro- 
voked than  when  I  saw  you  kept  in  this 
morning,  for  I  thought  it  would  be  my  turn 
next.     But  we've  nearly  an  hour  yet,  so 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


63 


there's  plenty  of  time  for  you  to  help  me 
with  these  troublesome  verbs." 

"  But  I  can't  to-day,  Philip ;  you  must  ex- 
cuse me,  indeed.  I  have  to  go  on  some  busi- 
ness for  my  father,  and  there's  only  time  to 
do  my  errand  and  get  back  before  afternoon 
school  is  called." 

"  Where  are  you  going  ?"  asked  his  com- 
panion, in  a  discontented  tone. 

Wat  explained  the  reason  of  his  haste,  and 
again  endeavored  to  pass  his  schoolmate. 

"Oh,  you've  plenty  of  time,"  exclaimed 
Philip,  catching  him  by  the  arm ;  "  Squire 
Hoskins  isn't  going  to  run  away.  So  wheth- 
er you  go  now  or  in  the  evening  will  make 
very  little  difference  either  to  him  or  your 
father." 

As  Wat  still  refused  to  comply  with  Gra- 
ham's invitation  and  take  a  seat  by  his  side, 
Philip  became  very  angry.  Being  by  no 
means  a  generous  or  manly  boy,  he  threat- 
ened to  take  away  the  book  that  he  had  lent 
to  Wat  the  evening  before. 


64 


WAT  ADAMS, 


"  Oh,  please  don't  do  that,  Philip,"  said  his 
young  schoolfellow,  with  a  pleading  look. 
"I've  just  come  to  such  an  interesting  part, 
and  I  want  so  much  to  know  how  Robinson 
finished  his  castle  and  whether  he  made  his 
boat  or  not.  I'll  do  anything  for  you  if 
you'll  only  let  me  keep  it  till  I  read  it 
through." 

"  Then,  if  you  will  do  anything  for  me,  you 
surely  can  do  me  this  one  little  favor.  Come, 
Wat ;  you  wouldn't  like  to  see  me  kept  in  to- 
morrow for  not  having  my  lesson  perfect,  and 
know  it  was  all  your  fault  ?" 

"Can't  Frank  Harris  help  you,  or  some 
one  of  the  other  big  boys  ?" 

"  No ;  they  are  all  so  mean  there's  no  use 
in  asking  them.  And  then  you  promised, 
you  know." 

Wat  hesitated  and  looked  undecided.  If 
he  could  only  have  said  "No"!  But  he 
stopped  to  parley  with  temptation,  and  the 
other,  seeing  his  advantage,  followed  it  up  by 
so  many  flattering  speeches  and  fair  promises 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


65 


that  the  little  fellow  was  finally  persuaded  to 
remain  and  go  oyer  the  tiresome  verbs. 

"  I  shall  have  plenty  of  time  after  school," 
he  said  to  himself  by  way  of  excuse ;  "  and  I 
hope  it  will  turn  out  all  right,  after  all." 

But  it  happened  to  turn  out  altogether 
wrong ;  for  when  Wat  arrived  at  Squire  Hos- 
kins'  in  the  evening,  he  learned,  to  his  dis- 
may, that  the  gentleman  had  left  home  about 
the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  intending  to  take 
a  long  journey  which  would  detain  him  many 
weeks. 

The  worthy  miller  was  much  disappointed 
when  he  heard  this,  not  only  because  of  the 
loss  and  inconvenience  to  him  in  his  business, 
but  on  account  of  his  little  son's  failure  to 
act  up  to  the  principles  he  had  taught  him. 
He  gave  him  a  long  lesson  on  the  subject, 
the  substance  of  which  may  benefit  other 
young  people  also  : 

"  We  may  think  we  have  time  enough  to 
spend,  but  we  always  find  we  have  little 
enough,  after  all.    '  Time  is  the  stuff  life  is 


66 


WAT  ADAMS, 


made  of.'  It  is  the  same  with  time  as  with 
money :  the  first  runs  away  by  little  mo- 
ments, the  other  by  pennies  and  dimes.  '  It 
won't  take  much  to  buy  this  trifle  or  that/ 
we  say ;  but  when  we  come  to  look  for  our 
dollars,  where  are  they  ?  So  when  we  have 
the  day  before  us  to  do  our  duty  in,  we  are 
constantly  disposed  to  waste  its  fractions 
thinking  them  of  no  account. 

"  Look  to  it  also,  my  son,  that  you  do  not 
put  off  the  great  concerns  of  your  soul's 
welfare  with  this  idle  plea  :  6 1  shall  have 
time  enough  to  attend  to  these  things  after 
a  while.'  Thousands  have  been  tempted  to 
think  and  act  thus  who  are  now  reaping  the 
sad  effects  of  their  folly.  The  Bible  does 
not  exhort  us  to  repent  at  some  more  con- 
venient season,  but  it  says :  '  To-day,  if  ye 
will  hear  his  voice.'  6  Come,  now,  let  us 
reason  together,  saith  the  Lord.'  'Now  is 
the  accepted  time ;  now  is  the  day  of  sal- 
vation.' " 

It  is  pleasant  to  be  able  to  record  that 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


67 


these  and  other  words  of  wisdom  uttered 
from  time  to  time  by  his  loving  father  so 
wrought  upon  the  susceptible  heart  of  little 
Wat  that  by  the  blessing  of  God  he  was 
enabled  in  the  days  of  early  youth  to  give 
himself  to  the  Lord  and  enter  into  covenant 
engagements  to  be  his. 

Then  it  was  that  he  became  the  true  moral 
hero  of  our  story,  acting  from  right  prin- 
ciples and  true  motives,  and  striving  to  ful- 
fill the  royal  law — love  to  God  and  our  neigh- 
bor. It  was  with  him  as  with  many  others 
who  reach  the  turning-point  in  life's  path- 
way : 

"  Once  to  every  man  and  nation  comes  the  moment  to  decide, 
In  the  strife  of  truth  with  falsehood,  for  the  good  or  evil  side.', 

Happily  for  himself  and  those  who  had  to 
do  with  him,  Wat  Adams  chose  the  right  in- 
stead of  the  wrong  path. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

TROUBLE  ALWAYS  COMES  DOUBLE. 

N  the  spring  of  the  following  yei*r 
Daniel  Adams  lost  his  gentle,  unas- 
suming wife,  and  Keziah  and  little 
Wat  a  loving  mother. 
It  would  soon  be  " little"  Wat  no  longer, 
for  the  boy  was  hard  on  his  thirteenth  sum- 
mer and  growing  up  to  be  a  fine,  manly  lad. 

His  father  had  been  obliged  to  take  him 
from  school  and  set  him  to  farming  the  few 
acres  of  land  that  belonged  to  the  mill  prop- 
erty. He  had  hitherto  been  able  to  hire  help 
for  this  work,  and  was  indeed  looked  upon  in 
the  neighborhood  as  a  thriving  man,  as  far 
as  money  matters  went. 

But  something  seemed  to  have  gone  wrong 
with  the  miller.  He  had  met  with  several 
heavy  losses  in  buying  and  selling  grain ; 

68 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


69 


sickness  brought  many  expenses  ;  and  finally 
he  was  compelled  to  mortgage  his  house  and 
mill  to  almost  the  whole  of  their  value. 

There  were  considerable  retrenchments 
made  after  this  in  the  household.  Jemima 
Berry,  whose  services  had  become  almost 
indispensable,  was  informed  that  she  must 
seek  another  situation,  and  Keziah,  who 
inherited  with  her  personal  likeness  much 
of  her  mother's  delicate  health  and  quiet 
ways,  was  compelled  to  exert  herself  to  the 
utmost  to  keep  everything  in  sufficient  order 
to  please  Grandma  Haynes,  who  became 
more  fretful  and  exacting  every  day. 

This  was  perhaps  best  for  the  young,  grow- 
ing girl,  as  she  inclined  more  to  needlework 
than  to  household  employments,  and  was 
spindling  up  too  slender  and  tall  for  her  age. 
But  it  vexed  her  brother  Wat  to  see  the  little 
hands  he  was  so  proud  of  browned  and  hard- 
ened with  rough  work  and  exposure,  while 
her  evenings  were  so  taken  up  that  he  had 
scarcely  time  to  say  a  word  to  her  in  the  in- 


10 


WAT  ADAMS, 


tervals  of  toiL  He  built  many  castles  in  the 
air  as  to  what  he  would  do  to  make  her  life 
bright  and  happy  when  he  became  a  man, 
but.  what  was  far  more  to  the  purpose,  gave 
her  most  efficient  help  both  in  doors  and  out 
whenever  he  had  a  moment  of  leisure. 

These  moments  were  indeed  few  and  far 
.  rtween.  tor  "VTa:  was  too  useful  to  be  long 
without  some  work  to  do.  He  had  a  knack 
with  tools,  and  could  mend  almost  anything 
t  needed  mending — tinkering  door-latches 
that  had  a  trick  of  starting  open  to  admit 
cold  draughts  of  air.  soldering  leaky  tin 
bucket  :ffi-e-pots.  and  gaining  Grandma 
Haynes'  good  word  for  his  skillfulness  by 
successfully  replacing  and  securing  one  of 
the  -  -  her  spectacles,  that,  as  she  said, 
u  was  for  ever  dropping  out  just  when  she 
needed  her  best  eyes." 

She  was  wont  on  these  occasions  to  term 
the  young  artisan  a  "  Jack  of  all  trades," 
to  which  he  would  pleasantly  rejoin,  "Yes, 
grandma,  but  master  of  none." 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


71 


"  But  you  ought  to  be,"  slie  once  replied, 
sharply.  "  I  don't  know  what  your  father 
can  be  thinking  about  to  have  you  wasting 
your  best  days  between  the  mill  and  the  few 
acres,  that  hardly  raise  us  the  bread  we  eat. 
A  good  trade  is  the  best  legacy  a  man  can 
inherit ;  for  if  he  hasn't  lands,  he  has  hands." 

This  was  Wat's  opinion  too,  and  he  wished 
very  much  that  his  father  would  bind  him 
apprentice  to  some  useful  calling,  so  that  he 
could  help  to  support  the  family  and  make 
himself  an  honest  living. 

On  some  of  the  rare  holidays  on  Saturday 
afternoons,  when  Keziah  could  be  spared  by 
Grandma  Haynes  long  enough  to  go  with 
him  to  the  berry-patch,  or  in  autumn  to 
gather  herbs  for  drying  or  sumach  berries  and 
oak  bark  to  color  her  carpet  chains  and  quilt- 
linings,  such  excursions  being  allowable  be- 
cause useful,  Wat  was  accustomed  to  hold 
forth  to  his  sister  quite  eloquently  on  the 
subject  of  his  future  advancement,  while  she 
looked  forward  to  the  time  when  she  should 


72 


WAT  ADAMS, 


be  able  to  earn  money  by  dressmaking,  which 
was  the  height  of  her  girlish  ambition. 

But  while  they  were  thus  proposing  the 
circumstances  of  their  lives  to  suit  them- 
selves, God  was  disposing  events  in  his  own 
way,  and  bringing  them  sooner  than  they 
thought  to  the  necessity  of  relying  on  their 
own  exertions  and  choosing  their  paths  in 
life. 

The  old  mill  had  been  wanting  repairs  for 
a  long  time.  The  foundation  was  getting 
rotten  and  water-soaked,  and  needed  new 
timbers  to  prop  up  the  fast-decaying  walls. 
But  the  work  required  more  outlay  than  in 
his  present  circumstances  the  good  miller 
thought  he  could  afford.  So  one  day  he 
attempted  to  do  something  with  it  himself, 
and  was  busy  with  crowbar  and  sledge- 
hammer when  a  tremendous  crash  was 
heard.  Wat,  who  was  driving  his  team  at 
a  short  distance  from  the  house,  reached  the 
place  only  to  find  his  father  half  buried 
under  the  ruins  of  his  mill,  the  outer  wall 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


73 


having  fallen  on  him  in  such  a  way  that  the 
lower  part  of  his  body  was  crushed  beneath 
an  immense  load  of  mortar  and  stones. 

Help  was  speedily  procured,  but  it  took  a 
long  time  to  extricate  the  poor  man  from  his 
dreadful  situation ;  and  then  the  agonizing 
sensations  that  followed  when  the  ponderous 
mass  was  removed  from  his  limbs  caused  him 
to  fall  into  a  long  and  deathlike  swoon,  al- 
though while  the  men  were  working  for  his 
deliverance  he  had  cheered  them  on  in  a 
loud,  firm  voice  and  directed  their  move- 
ments. 

Days  and  nights  of  intense  suffering 
passed.  One  of  his  legs  had  been  am- 
putated, and  for  a  time  the  surgeon  thought 
that  with  the  patient's  strong  constitution 
and  the  advantages  of  his  temperate,  steady 
habits  he  might  yet  do  well.  But  it  was  soon 
evident  to  all  that  Daniel  Adams  had  but  a 
short  time  to  live. 

Before  he  breathed  his  last  the  good  man 
called  his  son  and  daughter  to  his  bedside 


74 


WAT  ADAMS, 


and  took  a  tender  farewell  of  them  both. 
Then  he  spoke  a  few  words  of  parting 
advice : 

"My  children,  I  have  no  inheritance  to 
leave  you  but  a  good  name  and  the  blessing 
of  the  Lord  with  it.  I  thank  my  God  that 
he  has  enabled  me  to  live  to  his  service,  to 
defraud  no  man,  to  covet  no  man's  silver  or 
gold  or  costly  apparel.  But  most  I  thank 
him  for  giving  me  through  Jesus  Christ  a 
full  hope  of  immortality  and  a  peace  that 
the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away. 

"  My  daughter,  let  your  adorning  be  the 
ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which 
is  in  the  sight  of  God  of  great  price.  Al- 
ways remember  this :  6  Favor  is  deceitful 
and  beauty  is  vain,  but  a  woman  that  feareth 
the  Lord,  she  shall  be  praised.' 

"  My  son,  I  have  taught  you  many  prov- 
erbs, but  the  word  of  God  will  teach  you 
other  and  far  better  ones,  such  as  are  worth 
their  weight  in  gold.  Study  well  the  book 
of  Proverbs.    '  Keep  thy  father's  command- 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  75 

merit,  and  forsake  not  the  law  of  thy  mother. 
Bind  them  continually  upon  thy  heart,  and 
tie  them  about  thy  neck.  Trust  in  the  Lord 
with  all  thy  heart,  and  lean  not  unto  thine 
own  understanding.  In  all  thy  ways  ac- 
knowledge him,  and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths. 
So  shalt  thou  find  favor  in  the  sight  of  God 
and  man/  " 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 


NO  LANDS,  SO  HELP  HANDS. 

m8  RANDMA  HAYNES  must  certainly 
^^H'  have  taken  a  peep  into  "  Poor  Rich- 
ard's  Almanac  "  when,  in  speaking  to 
lier  grandson  about  the  propriety  of 
his  learning  a  trade,  she  uttered  the  above 
maxim.  But  whatever  was  its  origin,  Wat 
Adams  was  disposed  to  take  it  for  his  motto. 

After  his  father's  death  it  was  found  that 
nothing  remained  out  of  his  little  property 
for  the  support  of  his  family.  The  mort- 
gage covered  nearly  all  there  was  of  real  es- 
tate, and  the  remnant,  with  a  large  share  of 
the  household  goods,  went  to  pay  the  doctor's 
bill  and  other  necessary  expenses. 

The  young  lad,  upon  whose  shoulders  the 
burdens  of  life  had  fallen  so  early,  was  deter- 
mined to  be  honest  and  true,  and  not  owe 
re 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST, 


77 


any  man  what  was  justly  due  him.  So  when 
all  the  debts  were  paid  and  the  house  and 
mill  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  new 
owners,  he  was  obliged  to  look  about  him 
for  the  means  of  providing  their  daily  bread. 

Grandma  Haynes  owned  a  small  house  in 
the  village  of  Holly,  with  a  little  plot  of 
garden  ground  belonging  to  it,  where  they 
might  raise  vegetables  enough  in  the  summer 
for  their  own  use.  They  were  very  thankful 
for  this;  for  as  Wat  remarked,  " Rent-day 
comes  on  wings,"  and  "  Rent  is  a  creditor 
that  can't  be  put  off." 

When  they  had  moved  into  the  Holly 
home  and  their  few  possessions  were  neatly 
arranged  in  the  new  dwelling,  it  began  to 
look  quite  comfortable  and  pleasant.  Even 
Grandma  Haynes  condescended  to  express 
her  satisfaction  as  she  sat  in  her  old  high- 
backed  arm-chair,  which  had  been  carefully 
preserved  amidst  the  general  wreck,  and  sip- 
ped the  nice  cup  of  tea  that  Keziah  made 
strictly  after  her  grandmother's  rule :  "  A 


78 


WAT  ADAMS, 


spoonful  for  each  person  and  an  extra  one 
for  the  tea-pot." 

It  was  not  until  the  old  lady  had  retired 
for  the  night  that  the  brother  and  sister  en- 
tered into  a  free  conversation  about  their 
prospects  and  intentions.  Keziah  took  her 
basket  of  stockings  to  darn  and  sat  on  one 
side  of  the  little  table,  while  "Wat  occupied 
his  grandmother's  chair  and  whittled  at  a 
piece  of  wood.  Wat's  whittling  at  first  seemed 
to  be  of  no  manner  of  use  but  to  litter  his 
sister's  cleanly-swept  hearth  with  shavings, 
but  it  turned  out  in  the  end  to  be  something 
useful  for  the  house — either  a  rolling-pin,  a 
dipper  for  the  flour,  or  perchance  a  toasting- 
fork  with  a  long  handle,  to  save  her  face  and 
hands  from  being  scorched  by  the  fire. 

Wat  was  at  this  time  in  his  seventeenth 
year,  the  terrible  accident  that  had  left  them, 
fatherless  having  taken  place  four  years 
after  the  loss  of  their  mother.  He  was  tall 
and  strongly  made,  notwithstanding  Grand- 
ma Haynes'  prediction  about  an  early  death, 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  79 


and  older  in  appearance  than  Keziah,  who 
was  fair  and  delicate,  like  her  mother.  She 
had  always  been  accustomed  to  look  up  to 
some  one,  and  when  deprived  of  the  protec- 
tion of  those  who  were  older  and  wiser  felt 
disposed  to  rely  on  her  young  brother  as  a 
helper  and  adviser.  So  she  waited  for  him 
to  speak  first. 

"  Philip  Graham  is  going  to  college,"  re- 
marked Wat,  after  a  long  pause,  only  broken 
by  some  trivial  remarks  about  his  work, 
which  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the 
weighty  thoughts  that  were  pressing  on  their 
young  minds. 

"  Oh,  Wat !  and  you  helped  him  to  be  a 
good  scholar,  and  know  more  than  he  does 
this  very  day,  although  you  are  so  much 
younger  !    I  wish  you  were  going  too." 

"  And  I  have  hired  with  Mr.  Graham  as 
chore-boy,"  went  on  her  brother,  in  a  dead- 
level  tone,  as  if  finishing  the  sentence  his 
sister  had  interrupted. 

Keziah  colored  with  vexation.    She  was 


80 


WAT  ADAMS, 


almost  ready  to  cry  at  the  idea  of  what 
seemed  to  her  a  degradation,  and  she  bent 
her  head  over  her  work-basket  to  conceal 
her  emotion. 

"  Why  not  ?"  asked  Wat,  laughing,  as  he 
threw  a  handful  of  chips  upon  the  fire, 
thereby  causing  it  to  blaze  suddenly  with  a 
ruddy  glow  that  lit  up  the  countenance  op- 
posite to  him  and  showed  him  all  the  disap- 
pointment that  was  written  there.  Immedi- 
ately his  own  face  became  grave  and  earnest. 
Then  he  leaned  forward  and  touched  his 
sister's  hand. 

"  They  that  fear  the  Lord  shall  not  want 
any  good  thing,"  he  said,  in  a  low  voice. 

Keziah  struggled  with  her  feelings  for  a 
moment.  Pretty  soon  she  rallied  and  rested 
her  flushed  cheek  on  his  shoulder. 

"  You  are  so  much  better  than  I,  Wat.  T 
seem  to  have  so  little  faith ;  and  then  I  believe 
I  am  proud — proud  of  and  for  you,  dear 
Wat." 

"And  which  would  you  be  prouder  of, 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


81 


Kizzie,  a  brother  that  can  use  his  hands  in 
honest  toil,  or  one  who  sits  with  them  folded 
because  his  tasks  are  not  to  his  liking  ?  Now, 
I  think  that  1  work  is  honorable,  but  pride 
and  idleness  abominable.' " 

"  Old  Proverbs !"  laughed  Keziah  through 
her  tears. 

This  was  all  that  Wat  wanted,  to  see  his 
sister  smile  and  look  bright  again.  He  went 
on  after  that  discoursing  in  his  usual  animated 
manner : 

"  You  see  it  happened  just  this  way :  Mr. 
Graham  was  father's  principal  creditor,  the 
one  who  held  the  mortgage  on  the  house  and 
mill.  He  was  very  kind  too,  and  offered  to 
let  it  lie  and  allow  me  to  try  my  hand  at 
managing  the  business.  But  no,  I  said  to 
him ;  if  father  couldn't  get  along,  being  in 
debt,  how  was  a  mere  boy  like  me  to  do  it  ? 
And  besides,  'out  of  debt,  out  of  danger.' 
I'd  rather  begin  the  world  without  a  cent 
than  have  that  halter  around  my  neck  all 
my  days.    I  knew,  too,  that  father  meant  it 


82 


WAT  ADAMS, 


all  to  go  and  have  everybody  paid  off  justly 
and  honorably. 

"  Then  Mr.  Graham  asked  me  what  I  in- 
tended to  do  with  myself,  and  what  I  could 
work  at.  And  after  a  while  it  came  out  that 
he  wanted  a  boy  to  help  about  the  stables 
and  garden,  and  he  offered  me  eight  dollars 
a  month  and  my  board  if  I  consented  to  take 
the  place  right  away.  And  so  I  promised 
rather  than  lose  the  chance." 

"  But  you  are  sorry  now  that  you  did  so." 

"  No,  I  am  not,  Kizzie.  You  see,  it  don't 
do  for  a  boy  who  wants  to  earn  his  living  to 
be  too  choice  and  particular  about  what  he 
puts  his  hand  to.  Eight  dollars  a  month  and 
one's  victuals  is  better  than  roaming  around 
looking  for  odd  jobs,  and  losing  time,  besides, 
in  the  search  for  them.  I've  heard  father 
say  that  shifting  about  from  place  to  place 
gets  one  into  idle  habits,  and  often  into  bad 
company." 

"  But  you  could  do  better,  it  seems  to  me," 
said  his  sister,  with  a  sigh. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


83 


"And  I  mean  to.  Don't  think,  Kizzie, 
because  I  begin  by  being  Mr.  Graham's  chore- 
boy,  that  I  intend  to  remain  in  such  a  posi- 
tion all  my  days.  I  believe  in  aiming  high, 
even  if  I  have  to  stand  on  the  lowest  step  of 
the  ladder  at  first.  If  God  prosper  and  help 
me;  I  shall  work  my  way  up,  never  fear. 
But  just  now  I  must  earn  something  to  help 
you  and  grandma  along.  You  know  our 
little  stock  of  money  is  almost  gone,  and  we 
shall  have  to  buy  all  our  provisions  until  we 
can  get  something  from  the  garden." 

"And  can  I  not  do  something  too  ?"  asked 
Keziah,  eagerly.  "Dear  Wat,  I  shall  not 
consent  to  have  you  the  only  worker  and  I 
the  idle  drone  in  the  hive.  Don't  you  re- 
member my  old  ambition  about  being  the 
village  dressmaker?  "Well,  Mrs.  Willits 
and  her  sister  were  actually  in  here  to-day 
to  ask  me  to  help  them  with  their  winter 
sewing,  and  promised,  if  I  gave  satisfaction, 
to  pay  me  well  for  all  I  can  do,  besides  rec- 
ommending me  to  their  friends.    I've  been 


84 


WAT  ADAMS. 


wanting  to  tell  you  ever  since,  and  what 
heaps  of  things  I  intend  to  buy  with  the 
money  when  I  get  it — a  warm  soft  dress  for 
poor  old  grandma,  books  for  you,  Wat,  and 
oh,  I  don't  know  how  many  more  things 
besides." 

Wat  laughed  at  his  sister's  ideas  of  wealth, 
but  agreed  with  her  that  this  assistance  would 
be  very  timely  and  no  doubt  lead  to  some- 
thing better  in  the  future.  He  promised,  as 
soon  as  she  gained  custom,  to  have  a  neat 
sign  affixed  to  the  cottage  window  with  her 
name  and  employment  duly  set  forth  in  the 
village  artist's  best  style. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


FORTUNE  FAVORS  THE  BRAVE. 

^^J^HIS  seems  at  first  a  heathenish  prov- 
erb enough,  for  to  the  Christian 
there  is  no  such  thing  as  fortune  or 
luck.  He  knows  that  God  rules  over 
all  and  ordains  every  event  in  his  providence. 
But  that  the  energetic,  the  earnest  worker 
may  expect  his  blessing  and  will  rise  in  spite 
of  difficulties  is  as  true  now  as  it  ever  was  in 
the  history  of  mankind. 

Wat  and  his  sister  were  no  exceptions  to 
this  rule.  The  latter  gained  the  position  she 
sought  for,  and  soon  had  enough  on  her 
hands  to  warrant  not  only  the  fulfillment  of 
her  brother's  promise  about  the  sign,  but  the 
added  expense  of  keeping  a  little  girl  to  do 
the  housework,  so  as  to  leave  the  young 
dressmaker  more  time  to  ply  her  needle. 


85 


86 


WAT  ADAMS, 


This  last  arrangement  was  not  at  all  to 
Grandma  Haynes'  liking.  She  quoted  the 
old  proverbs,  "  Penny  wise  and  pound  fool- 
ish/' and  "  Save  at  the  little  end  of  the  horn 
to  spend  at  the  greater/'  prognosticating 
that  in  consequence  of  the  inevitable  tend- 
ency of  the  young  and  ignorant  to  squander 
the  goods  entrusted  to  their  care  there  would 
be  "  woeful  want  "  as  a  sequel  to  the  "  willful 
waste."  So  she  was  more  watchful  than  ever, 
and  more  faultfinding.  Had  it  not  been  for 
Keziah's  quiet  tact  in  keeping  them  from 
collision,  poor  little  Cynthy  Crane  would 
have  led  a  harder  life  of  it  than  ever  did 
her  predecessor,  Jemima  Berry. 

Little  Cynthy  had  a  sad  story  belonging 
to  her.  Her  father  was  that  same  Jethro 
Crane  whose  intemperate  habits  had  caused 
him  to  fall  so  low  in  the  social  scale,  besides 
reducing  his  wife  and  children  to  absolute 
poverty.  They  lived  in  a  little  log  cabin  just 
on  the  outskirts  of  Holly  village — a  tene- 
ment so  ruinous  that  the  owner  thought  it 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


87 


not  worth  while  to  put  it  in  order  and  ask 
rent  for  it,  but  allowed  the  Crane  family  to 
dwell  there  as  long  as  they  could  make  it 
habitable. 

Ever  since  our  Lord  and  Master  uttered 
that  true  saying,  "  The  poor  ye  have  always 
with  you/'  there  have  been  willing  hearts 
and  open  hands  to  "do  them  good."  God's 
poor — those  who  are  rich  in  faith  and  heirs 
of  the  kingdom — have  often  their  daily  wants 
supplied  by  some  most  signal  providences. 

The  mother  of  little  Cynthy  was  a  meek 
and  humble  Christian.  She  had  striven  hard 
to  bring  up  her  young  family  in  the  right 
way,  and  it  was  not  her  fault  that  her  husband 
was  the  poor  besotted  being  he  was.  As 
long  as  she  had  a  house,  and  decent  furniture 
to  put  in  it,  she  took  pride  in  keeping  all 
in  perfect  order  and  making  it  an  inviting 
home  for  the  industrious,  hard-working  man 
on  his  return  at  the  close  of  his  day's  labor. 

Great  was  her  grief  when  she  found  all  her 
little  arts  unavailing  and  the  evenings  that 


WAT  ADAMS. 


used  to  be  given  to  her  and  her  little  ones,  and 
which  were  so  pleasant  and  happy,  now  wasted 
in  the  lowest  company  and  the  most  degrad- 
ing vices.  In  these  circumstances  she  could 
only  go  to  God  with  her  burdens,  and  trust 
in  Him  who  cares  for  the  sparrows,  that  he 
would  give  her  and  her  children  their  daily 
bread. 

When  work  grew  scarce  in  the  cold,  win- 
try weather,  and  food  and  fuel  very  difficult 
to  obtain,  her  faith  was  sorely  tried.  How 
hard,  when  the  last  dry  crust  was  divided  be- 
tween four  hungry  mouths,  while  she  herself 
went  without  that  the  portion  for  the  ehil- 
:.  n  fnight  be  larger,  when  the  last  miser- 
able fagot  was  laid  on  the  fire  to  keep  life  in 
their  freezing  limbs, — how  hard  then  to  take 
no  thought  for  the  morrow,  and  believe  in 
the  promise,  "  The  Lord  will  provide  "  ! 

But  in  this  extremity  God  raised  them  up 
a  friend  in  the  worthy  miller,  Daniel  Adams. 
One  day  when  the  poor  woman  came  to  ask 
for  a  little  Hour,  confessing  her  inability  to 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


89 


purchase  it,  the  good  man,  struck  by  her 
wretched  appearance,  made  some  inquiries 
into  her  circumstances,  and  learned  her  des- 
titute condition.  He  found  also  by  her  con- 
versation that  she  was  a  follower  of  Jesus, 
and  as  a  disciple  of  Christ  he  ministered 
unto  her,  doing  it  for  His  sake  in  whose  sight 
the  "  cup  of  cold  water  "  is  not  deemed  un- 
worthy of  a  reward. 

From  that  time  affairs  brightened  in  the 
family  of  the  poor  inebriate.  Clothing,  food 
and  fuel  were  abundantly  furnished  by  the 
kind' inhabitants  of  Holly,  whose  zeal,  stimu- 
lated by  the  example  of  the  good  miller,  could 
not  rest  satisfied  until  every  pressing  want 
had  been  supplied.  Nor  was  this  all.  As 
soon  as  the  season  permitted,  a  detachment 
of  neighbors  set  forth  to  the  ruined  cabin  and 
made  some  needful  repairs,  while  their  wives, 
not  to  be  behindhand  in  the  good  work, 
found  that  they  could  spare  many  useful 
articles  of  furniture  and  cooking  utensils  to 
make  the  place  look  comfortable. 


90 


WAT  ADAMS, 


Cynthy,  the  oldest  girl,  was  promised  a 
place,  as  soon  as  one  could  be  found  for  lier. 
But  as  most  of  the  Holly  people  did  their 
own  work,  she  remained  unprovided  for 
until  Keziah  Adams  required  her  assistance. 
Her  mother  being  a  nice,  notable  housekeep- 
er when  she  had  the  means,  and  not  accus- 
tomed, like  many  poor  people,  to  "  spend  to- 
day and  spare  to-morrow,"  feasting  one  time 
and  starving  the  next,  the  child  had  been 
brought  up  to  ways  of  economy  and  thrift, 
so  that  Grandma  Haynes'  fears  were  not 
likely  to  be  realized. 

But  we  are  losing  sight  of  Wat  in  his  new 
situation.  It  was  not  a  very  easy  nor  pleas- 
ant place,  as  the  lad  soon  found  to  his  cost. 

There  was  Mr.  Graham  to  call  him  one 
way  and  send  him  on  a  multitude  of  errands ; 
there  was  Sam  the  coachman  to  please  ;  and 
having  lived  nearly  all  his  life  in  the 
family,  he  was  inclined  to  "boss"  it  over 
every  new  comer,  looking  with  the  pride  of 
a  master  on  his  horses  and  being  as  careful 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


91 


of  them  as  if  they  were  worth  their  weight 
in  gold.  Every  morning  they  were  groomed 
in  the  nicest  manner,  and  woe  to  the  new 
stable-boy  if  a  rough  spot  were  discovered  on 
their  satin  coats  after  a  due  course  of  brush- 
ing and  oiling  had  been  gone  through  with. 

Wat  submitted  to  being  ordered  about  by 
his  two  masters  with  the  best  grace  he  could. 
"  Of  course  he  must  expect  to  be  taught  his 
duty/'  he  said  to  himself;  "and  if  Mr.  Gra- 
ham was  a  little  imperious  and  exacting 
sometimes,  and  Sam  unnecessarily  churlish 
and  faultfinding,  why,  perhaps  it  was  best 
for  him — just  the  discipline  he  needed  to 
make  him  tough  and  a  manly,  energetic 
character."  So  he  whistled  away  his  vexa- 
tion as  he  went  about  his  usual  duties,  and 
comforted  himself  by  the  thought  that  he 
should  not  always  be  Mr.  Graham's  chore- 
boy. 

But  there  was  another  circumstance  much 
more  galling  to  our  brave  young  hero.  This 
was  the  conduct  of  his  former  friend  and 


92 


WAT  ADAMS, 


schoolmate,  Philip  Graham.  Although  Wat 
had  aided  him  so  much  in  his  studies,  and 
they  had  stood  on  such  familiar  terms  with 
each  other,  the  young  man — for  he  was 
several  years  older  than  Wat — chose  to  pass 
him  by  either  without  notice  or  at  most  with 
a  haughty  nod  and  stare,  when  he  was  at 
home  for  a  visit  and  they  chanced  to  meet. 

From  all  these  vexations  Wat  found  a 
delightful  refuge  when,  on  each  alternate 
Saturday  night,  he  was  allowed  to  return 
to  Holly  and  spend  the  Sabbath  quietly 
at  home,  going  to  church  and  Sunday- 
school  with  Keziah  and  little  Cynthy  or 
reading  the  Bible  aloud  to  his  old  grand- 
mother, who  was  partially  blind  and  deaf 
from  age,  although  the  spirited  old  woman 
never  owned  her  infirmities,  but  insisted  that 
she  could  see  and  hear  as  well  as  ever. 

On  these  occasions  Wat  never  spoke  to  his 
sister  of  his  little  troubles,  for  he  would  not 
have  her  worried  on  his  account.  But  it 
seemed  very  dismal  to  him  when  his  short 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


93 


visit  was  over  and  he  had  to  hear  Sam's 
chiding,  complaining  tones  as  he  mounted 
the  stairs  to  his  little  room  over  the  carriage- 
house'  and  exchanged  his  neat  Sunday  suit 
for  a  blue  cotton  blouse  and  overalls,  so  as 
to  be  ready  to  help  the  coachman  with  his 
evening  work. 

This  little  room  was  another  refuge  from 
his  daily  vexations.  To  his  great  joy,  he  was 
not  obliged  to  share  it  with  a  companion. 
He  felt  quite  like  a  monarch  in  his  kingdom, 
when  all  was  done  for  the  night  and  he  was 
free  once  more  to  do  as  he  pleased.  When 
he  was  not  too  weary  with  his  day's  exertions, 
this  doing  as  he  pleased  consisted  in  reading 
and  going  over  his  former  studies ;  for  al- 
though his  father's  altered  circumstances  had 
caused  him  to  leave  school  rather  premature- 
ly, he  had  no  mind  to  give  up  learning  al- 
together. 

It  was  a  nice,  pleasant  little  apartment, 
lighted  by  a  window  at  the  east  and  another 
at  the  west,  so  that  the  beams  of  the  sun 


94 


WAT  ADAMS, 


visited  it  both  at  his  rising  and  setting. 
Besides  a  bed,  chair  and  table,  Wat  had  a 
shelf  for  his  books,  whilst  several  rough 
wood-engravings  cut  out  of  newspapers,  de- 
picting battle-scenes  and  eminent  generals, 
had  been  pasted  on  the  whitewashed  walls  by 
some  former  tenant  of  the  room. 

There  were  many  times  when  the  young 
lad  was  too  tired  for  anything  but  sleep,  and 
on  these  occasions  it  was  not  very  difficult  to 
believe  in  the  old  adage, 

"  Early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise 
Makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy  and  wise." 

But  sometimes  he  was  tempted  sorely  to 
forget  it,  especially  when  he  had  some  enter- 
taining book  to  read  or  felt  unusually  wake- 
ful, although  he  knew  that  he  should  proba- 
bly oversleep  himself  in  the  morning  and  be 
growled  at  by  the  coachman  for  his  laziness 
and  inattention  to  duty. 

One  evening,  during  one  of  Philip's  vaca- 
tions, he  was  ordered  by  that  young  gentleman 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


95 


to  have  his  horse  ready  for  him  at  a  very- 
early  hour,  as  he  had  engaged  to  take  a  long 
ride  .with  a  friend,  who  was  to  meet  him  at  a 
certain  time  and  place.  The  command  was 
delivered  in  Philip's  most  unpleasant  manner, 
but  Wat,  though  inwardly  chafed  and  irri- 
tated by  his  behavior,  wisely  forbore  to  show 
his  vexation  either  by  word  or  look.  Touch- 
ing his  cap  slightly — an  act  of  deference 
which  Philip  always  exacted — he  made  his 
way  to  his  own  quiet  room,  for  he  had  taken 
his  supper  and  was  allowed  to  retire  for  the 
night. 

Once  there,  and  with  no  eye  to  observe  him, 
Wat's  wounded  feelings  had  full  vent  for  a 
time,  and  he  could  not  help  shedding  tears  as 
he  leaned  his  arms  on  the  table  and  covered 
his  face  with  his  hands.  He  had  some  bitter 
thoughts,  too,  about  Philip  as  he  sat  thus,  but 
presently  he  remembered  what  his  good  father 
had  taught  him,  and  what  he  had  read  in  his 
Bible  about  patience  under  injuries  and  for- 
giveness of  those  who  despitefully  use  us, 


96 


WAT  ADAMS, 


and  tie  resolved  not  to  mind  it,  and,  above 
all,  not  to  be  revengeful  nor  wish  evil  to 
others. 

After  reading  his  usual  portion  of  Scrip- 
ture, Wat  took  a  book  from  his  jacket  pocket, 
and  was  presently  deeply  absorbed  in  its  con- 
tents. It  was  one  of  Philip's  that  he  had 
picked  up  somewhere,  and  it  gave  a  thrilling 
account  of  adventures  and  perils  both  by 
land  and  sea,  probably  fabulous,  but  not  the 
less  fascinating  to  the  young  reader. 

"With  each  succeeding  chapter  Wat  re- 
solved to  lay  clown  the  tempting  book,  but  leaf 
after  leaf  was  turned  and  yet  he  continued 
to  read.  At  length  the  stable  clock  struck 
the  hour  of  midnight,  and  with  a  start  Wat 
recollected  that  he  must  be  up  and  about  his 
work  at  four  in  the  morning.  There  was  no 
choice  for  it ;  he  must  give  up  his  absorbing 
volume  and  try  to  get  some  sleep.  Hur- 
riedly he  put  out  his  light  and  undressed, 
then,  saying  a  few  words  of  prayer  in  an 
equally  hasty  manner,  jumped  into  bed,  only 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


97 


to  go  over  again  in  dreams  the  adventures 
that  had  so  charmed  his  imagination. 

It  seemed  but  a  few  minutes  before  a  thun- 
dering knock  was  heard  at  his  door,  and  he 
awoke  to  find  the  east  already  crimsoned  with 
the  coming  dawn.  Then  came  the  voice  of 
Sam  the  coachman  : 

"  Hallo,  Wat !  do  wake  yourself  up. 
Here's  Master  Philip  almost  crazy  about  his 
horse.  He  says  he  ordered  it  to  be  ready 
nearly  an  hour  ago." 

Wat  rubbed  his  eyes  sleepily.  Then  he 
made  one  bound  into  the  middle  of  the 
apartment  and  dressed  himself  in  a  moment. 

But  before  he  had  time  to  leave  the  room, 
Philip  himself  came  up  the  stairs,  calling 
out, 

"Where  is  that  lazy  fellow?  I'll  teach 
him  to  mind  what  I  tell  him  next  time." 

But,  coward  as  he  was,  he  had  no  sooner 
met  Wat's  calm,  unflinching  eye  than  he 
evidently  cooled  down,  and  contented  him- 
self with  striding  up  and  down  the  apart- 


98 


WAT  ADAMS, 


inent  and  switching  his  boots  with  his  riding- 
whip. 

In  one  of  his  turns  he  discovered  and 
recognized  the  book  that  Wat  had  been 
reading  the  preceding  evening. 

"  Why,  this  is  a  pretty  go !"  he  exclaimed, 
angrily ;  "  who  gave  you  leave  to  take  my 
books,  youngster?  Don't  you  know  better 
than  to  meddle  with  my  property  ?" 

"  But,  Philip,  you  used  to  lend  them  to 
me,"  said  Wat,  with  something  of  his  old 
winning  manner. 

"  Don't  call  me  Philip,"  said  the  older  lad, 
still  more  savagely  than  before ;  "  remember 
that  I  am  your  master,  boy." 

"  No,  I  don't  remember  any  such  thing," 
replied  Wat,  steadily.  "  I  hired  with  your 
father  to  do  his  work,  but  I  am  under  no 
obligation  to  bear  your  taunts  and  insults." 

Philip,  aroused  to  fury  by  Wat's  cool  op- 
position, here  uttered  such  a  string  of  abusive 
epithets  that  Wat,  if  unaided  of  God,  would 
have  been  tempted  to  return  railing  for  rail- 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


99 


ing.  But  Wat  had  lately  been  studying  a 
more  sacred  collection  of  proverbs  than  those 
of  his  early  childhood.  In  them  he  had  read 
that  "  a  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath,  but 
grievous  words  stir  up  anger."  And  "in 
the  multitude  of  words  there  wanteth  not 
sin."  So  he  wisely  held  his  peace,  and  de- 
scending to  the  stables  began  to  groom 
Philip's  horse. 

But  the  angry  young  man  would  not  let 
the  matter  rest  thus.  Finding  that  he  could 
not  provoke  the  lad  sufficiently  to  quarrel, 
he  became  excited,  and  watching  his  oppor- 
tunity struck  Wat  across  the  face  with  his 
riding-whip  a  stinging,  cruel  blow.  Imme- 
diately Wat,  who  had  learned  a  little  of  the 
art  of  wrestling  when  playing  at  school, 
tripped  and  threw  his  antagonist,  who  had 
closed  with  him  after  striking  him  and  was 
fighting  viciously.  But  instead  of  returning 
the  blows  the  other  had  bestowed  on  him, 
Wat  contented  himself  with  holding  his 
hands  in  a  strong,  vice-like  grasp. 


100 


WAT  ADAMS, 


"  Let  me  up,  let  me  up !  how  dare  you  ?" 
cried  Philip,  when  he  could  recover  breath, 
for  he  was  almost  choked  with  passion. 

"  Not  until  you  ask  my  pardon  and  prom- 
ise to  treat  me  better  in  future,"  said  Wat, 
still  keeping  his  hold  on  the  other's  wrists. 

"  That  I'll  never  do.  And  I'll  get  my 
father  to  flog  you  within  an  inch  of  your  life 
for  your  insolence,"  sputtered  Philip. 

But  just  then  Mr.  Graham,  attracted  by 
the  noise  and  confusion,  came  up  and  demand- 
ed an  explanation  of  this  extraordinary 
scene.  At  his  command  Wat  allowed  Philip 
to  scramble  to  his  feet ;  but  while  the  young- 
er boy  stood  in  dignified  silence,  his  assailant 
began  to  abuse  him  with  renewed  violence. 

"  Come,"  said  Mr.  Graham,  sternly,  after 
learning  from  the  coachman  the  true  state  of 
the  case ;  "  we  have  had  quite  enough  of  this, 
Philip.  You  are  evidently  too  much  excited 
to  listen  to  reason ;  you  had  better  go  to 
your  own  room  and  cool  down  a  while.  Af- 
terward I  will  talk  with  you  about  this  mat- 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  101 

ter.  And  you,  Wat,  when  you  have  bathed 
your,  face  and  arranged  your  disordered 
clothing,  may  come  to  me  in  the  library.  I 
have  something  to  say  to  you." 

The  so-called  library  was  Mr.  Graham's 
private  room,  where  he  transacted  whatever 
business  came  to  hand,  summed  up  his  ac- 
counts and  paid  off  his  servants  and  farm- 
hands. Wat  entered  it  with  the  calm  con- 
sciousness of  innocence,  for  he  could  not 
accuse  himself  of  any  wrong-doing  in  the 
affair  with  Philip,  save  that  one  error  of  sit- 
ting up  too  late  the  preceding  night,  and  so 
failing  in  being  on  time  in  the  morning. 

He  expected,  however,  to  find  Mr.  Graham 
very  angry  with  him,  and  was  therefore  agree- 
ably surprised  when  that  gentleman  address- 
ed him  in  a  mild  and  quiet  manner. 

"  Wat,"  he  said,  very  kindly,  "  I  am  truly 
sorry  to  find  that  you  have  been  treated  thus 
cruelly  by  one  who  has  so  much  cause  to  be 
grateful  to  you  as  my  son  Philip.  I  have 
never  mentioned  it  to  you  before,  but  I  know 


102 


WAT  ADAMS, 


all  about  your  lending  him  a  helping  hand 
at  school  and  losing  half  your  recreation- 
time  for  the  pleasure  of  doing  a  good  action. 
I  wonder  that  Philip  forgets  it  as  he  does. 
But  I  much  fear  that  he  has  fallen  in  with 
improper  associates  and  formed  habits  that 
make  him  irritable." 

Wat  could  not  help  remembering  Philip's 
own  confession  in  his  schoolboy  days  of 
deceiving  his  father  by  his  choice  of  ques- 
tionable reading,  nor  the  rumors  that  were 
current  in  Holly  of  the  young  man's  reck- 
less habits  and  constant  visits  to  the  village 
tavern.  He  had  often  thought  that  his  con- 
duct was  like  the  half  insanity  of  an  intox- 
icated person,  and  he  had  no  doubt  that 
morning  that  such  was  the  case,  for  in  his 
close  proximity  to  his  prostrate  antagonist 
he  had  inhaled  the  disgusting  fumes  of  liquor. 
He  said  nothing  of  all  this  to  the  evidently 
harassed  and  anxious  parent,  but  waited  in  a 
respectful  attitude  until  Mr.  Graham  spoke 
again : 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


103 


"  I  promised  your  father,  Wat,  that  I 
would  be  a  friend  to  his  boy  if  ever  he 
needed  one.  I  know  you  think  I  have  been 
hard  with  you,  and  perhaps  might  have 
pleased  you  better  if  I  had  helped  you  at 
once  in  the  way  you  liked  best — that  of 
learning  to  be  a  good  mechanic.  But  I 
thought  you  needed  discipline  before  you 
went  out  into  the  world  and  were  forced  to 
mingle  with  all  sorts  of  people.  Nothing 
makes  a  person  more  self-reliant  than  being 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and  obliged  to 
act  for  himself.  That  is  the  reason  I  proposed 
to  you  so  suddenly  to  become  my  chore-boy, 
and  told  you  that  you  must  decide  at  once 
whether  or  not  you  would  accept  the  situa- 
tion* That  you  did  so  proved  you  to  be 
prompt  and.  in  earnest  to  do  anything,  how- 
ever humble,  to  obtain  a  living.  That  I  have 
kept  you  strictly  in  your  place  and  allowed 
you  few  indulgences  was  also  a  part  of  this 
hardening  process.  I  knew  you  to  be  a 
favorite  both  at  home  and  in  school,  and  I 


104 


WAT  ADAMS, 


wanted  to  see  what  stuff  you  were  made  of 
and  whether  you  were  really  fit  for  the  battle 
of  life.  You  have  done  well,  Wat,  my  boy. 
I  don't  mind  telling  you  that  I  have  no  fault 
to  find  with  you." 

Wat  bowed  with  his  usual  graceful  court- 
esy, but  was  still  silent,  waiting  quietly  to 
know  to  what  all  this  fine  preamble  was  to 
lead. 

Mr.  Graham  fumbled  among  the  mass  of 
papers  that  lay  on  his  table,  and  at  last  pro- 
duced an  advertising  card,  which  he  handed 
to  Wat.   It  was  that  of  a  large  machine-shop 

in  the  city  of  .   At  the  same  time  he 

pushed  a  folded  paper  toward  him. 

"  I  know  you  do  not  expect  nor  wish  to 
remain  longer  in  my  service  after  what  has 
taken  place  this  morning,"  resumed  his  em- 
ployer. "  Mind,  I  do  not  blame  you  in  the 
least,  for  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  it  was 
not  your  fault.  But  it  would  not  be  pleasant 
for  either  of  us  to  have  you  stay,  so  I  have 
made  out  your  account  up  to  the  present 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


105 


time,  and  here  are  your  wages.  I  would 
have  written  a  letter  of  recommendation  for 
you  to  Mr.  Hill,  the  proprietor  of  the  estab- 
lishment mentioned  in  that  card,  but  I  think 
it  best  for  you  to  push  yourself  in  life ;  it  will 
make  you  manly  and  self-reliant.  I  hope 
you  will  succeed  in  obtaining  a  situation  with 
him  and  give  satisfaction  in  your  new  place, 
wherever  it  may  be." 

Wat  thanked  Mr.  Graham  for  his  good 
wishes  and  bade  him  good -morning.  Then 
he  went  to  take  leave  of  Sam  the  coachman, 
who,  after  all,  was  very  sorry  to  part  with 
him,  cast  a  rather  regretful  glance  around 
his  pleasant  little  room,  and  having  gathered 
up  his  few  possessions  was  soon  on  the  road 
to  Holly. 

"  It  seems  a  queer  way  to  toughen  a  fellow," 
he  said  to  himself  as  he  went  along,  "this 
finding  fault  with  him  and  making  him 
miserable  all  the  time.  It's  a  pity  Mr.  Gra- 
ham hadn't  tried  it  on  Philip  a  bit,  instead 
of  indulging  him  in  every  whim.    But  '  it 


106 


WAT  ADAMS. 


takes  all  sorts  of  people  to  make  a  world/ 
and  'it  don't  do  to  speak  ill  of  the  bridge 
that  carries  us  over  the  brook.'  I'm  thank- 
ful, anyhow,  for  this  card  of  directions  to 
Mr.  Hill's  machine-shop,  and  it  won't  be  my 
fault  if  I  don't  make  use  of  it  before  I'm 
many  weeks  older.  So,  after  all,  maybe  it's 
best  as  it  is.  I  shall  be  forced  to  'paddle 
my  own  canoe  '  and  do  the  best  I  can." 


CHAPTER  X. 

NOTHING  VENTURE  NOTHING  HAVE. 

OUD  and  long  were  Grandma  Haynes' 
remonstrances  when  she  found  that  it 
was  Wat's  intention  to  leave  Holly. 
She  had  become  so  accustomed  to  his 
frequent  quotations  of  proverbs  as  to  have 
many  of  them  at  her  tongue's  end,  and  on 
this  occasion  she  turned  his  own  weapons 
against  him. 

"  '  Better  let  well  enough  alone.'  6  A  roll- 
ing stone  gathers  no  moss/  "  she  said,  when 
he  had  told  her  and  Keziah  his  plans  while 
Cynthy  was  washing  up  the  dishes  in  the 
outer  kitchen. 

"  Yes,  grandma,"  replied  Wat,  laughing ; 
"  but  suppose  the  moss  isn't  worth  the  gath- 
ering ?  '  It's  a  poor  rule  that  won't  work  both 
ways ;'  and  the  rolling  stone  may  see  a  little 

107 


108 


WAT  ADAMS, 


) 


more  of  the  world  than  if  it  stood  still  all 
its  days." 

"  Poor  child !  you  may  see  a  little  too 
much  of  the  world  if  that's  what  you're 
after/'  said  the  old  lady  as  her  tremulous 
fingers  took  up  a  dropped  stitch  in  the  blue 
wroolen  sock  she  was  knitting.  "  The  world 
is  wide  enough,  but  it's  dre'ful  wicked,  Wat, 
and  there's  temptations  and  snares  to  meet 
you  at  every  turn.  You  know  what  the 
good  book  says  :  '  The  devil  goes  about  like  a 
roaring  lion,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour.' 
And  then,  too,  he  often  puts  on  the  guise  of 
an  angel  of  light,  so  as  to  deceive,  if  it  were 
possible,  the  very  elect." 

"  But  it  is  not  possible  for  him  to  do  it, 
grandma,"  said  Wat,  with  a  bright  look ; 
"  you  remember  what  our  Lord  Jesus  said : 
'  No  man  is  able  to  pluck  them  out  of  my 
hand.'  6  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be 
against  us  V  " 

"  Ay,  child,"  said  Grandma  Haynes,  who 
was  always  awed  into  reverence  when  Wat 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


109 


quoted  the  Bible  in  their  not  infrequent  con- 
tests. 

"He  looks  so  like  his  father/'  she  was 
wont  to  observe ;  "  grand  and  grave  as  any 
minister  too." 

Pretty  soon  she  took  another  tack,  this 
time  with  more  selfish  motives : 

"  And  what  am  I  and  your  sister  Kizzie  to 
do  without  you  ?  Not  a  man  or  boy  to  drive 
a  nail  or  do  a  turn,  and  the  garden  will  be 
running  to  waste  for  want  of  some  one  to 
attend  to  it." 

"  I  have  thought  of  all  that,  grandma," 
said  Wat,  quietly ;  "  I  called  at  Mrs.  Crane's 
as  I  came  along  this  morning,  and  she  has 
promised  that  Johnny  shall  see  to  the  garden 
and  do  all  the  jobs  that  are  too  hard  for  Cyn- 
thy,  such  as  chopping  the  wood  and  going  to 
mill,  or  the  like." 

"  There'll  be  another  mouth  to  feed,  then," 
grumbled  the  old  woman ;  "  who's  to  pay  for 
his  hire  and  keep,  I  want  to  know  ?" 

"  I  will.   The  money  I  earned  at  Mr.  Gra- 


110 


WAT  ADAMS, 


ham's  I  have  never  lifted  until  this  morning. 
Here  is  my  year's  wages  in  the  envelope,  just 
as  he  handed  it  to  me.  My  stock  of  cloth- 
ing is  good  enough  for  an  apprentice,  if  I 
should  succeed  in  getting  a  place,  and  I  shall 
need  very  little  money  for  my  journey,  for  I 
intend  to  go  on  foot." 

"  Oh,  Wat !"  exclaimed  his  sister,  who  had 
been  silently  grieving  over  the  necessity  of 
his  o;oin2;  at  all ;  "  that  will  be  very  hard. 
It  will  take  you  three  or  four  days  at  the 
least ;  and  when  you  get  there,  you  will  feel 
so  lost  and  bewildered  and  homesick." 

"  Like  a  cat  in  a  strange  garret  or  a  bull 
in  a  china- shop,  I  suppose,"  returned  her 
brother,  quizzically,  with  the  evident  in- 
tention of  making  her  laugh.  Having;  sue- 
ceeded  in  his  purpose,  Wat  rejoined  more 
seriously, 

"  Understand  once  for  all,  grandma  and 
Kizzie,  that  I  have  fully  made  up  my  mind 
about  this  matter,  and  have  thought  it  all 
over  very  often.    I  have  intended  to  be  a 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


Ill 


machinist  ever  since  I  was  a  very  little  boy. 
It  will  be  necessary  for  me  to  venture  some 
time  ;  for  if  I  do  not,  I  shall  never  gain  the 
position  I  aim  at.  I  can't  begin  younger.  I 
don't  intend  to  handle  my  tools  with  mittens 
on,  either.  "The  cat  in  gloves  catches  no 
mice.'  So  I'm  willing  to  take  it  rough  and 
tough,  just  as  it  comes." 

"  Well,  you're  a  right  Haynes  if  you  do 
look  like  your  father,  Wat  Adams,"  ex- 
claimed his  grandmother,  admiringly.  "  The 
Hayneses  were  always  an  up-and-down,  set- 
in-their-own-way  kind  of  folkses  ;  and  you've 
got  a  tongue  in  your  head  too,  which  your 
father  hadn't,  poor  man  !  or  he  might  have 
left  you  better  off  at  this  day.  So  I  judge 
you'll  get  along  somehow." 

Wat,  who  could  never  bear  to  hear  the 
least  word  spoken  disparagingly  of  the  pa- 
rent whose  memory  he  so  loved  and  cher- 
ished, was  about  to  answer  the  old  lady  rath- 
er sharply,  when  Keziah,  under  pretence  of 
showing  him  how  nicely  the  garden  was 


112 


WAT  ADAMS, 


coming  on,  took  him  with  her  out  of  doors, 
and  so  put  an  end  to  the  discussion. 

There  was  something  also  on  Keziah's 
mind  to  say  to  her  brother ;  and  while  she 
drew  his  attention  to  the  forwardness  of  her 
early  peas,  and  calculated  how  many  quarts 
of  currants  and  raspberries  she  would  have 
to  sell  to  Mrs.  Willits  for  jellies  and  jams,  she 
was  studying  the  best  mode  of  putting  her 
anxious  thoughts  into  speech. 

At  last,  when  they  had  admired  everything 
and  were  seated  on  a  rustic  bench  under  the 
weeping  willow,  the  young  girl  laid  her  hand 
affectionately  on  her  brother's  shoulder  and 
took  courage  to  give  him  her  little  word  of 
loving  advice : 

"  Grandma  was  right,  Wat  dear,  when  she 
told  you  that  the  city  is  a  place  of  tempta- 
tion. I  fear  you  will  find  many  to  lead  you 
astray,  and  few  to  help  you  to  do  what  is 
right.  A  great  deal  depends  on  what  kind 
of  company  you  keep  at  first  and  the  associa- 
tions you  form.    So  I  want  you  to  promise 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


113 


me  three  things,  Wat — that  you  will  not  go 
to  the  theatre  nor  into  those  dreadful  gam- 
bling and  drinking  saloons,  nor  read  any  bad 
book,  nor  frequent  any  place  that  you  would 
blush  to  talk  about  to  your  own  sister." 

"  I  promise  with  God's  help  that  I  never 
will/'  said  Wat,  solemnly  ;  "  but,  Kizzie,  let 
me  tell  you  that  more  depends  on  one's  self 
about  these  things  than  you  have  any  idea 
of.  I  do  not  want  to  be  conceited  and  above 
taking  advice,  but  I  have  often  thought 
that  the  reason  some  young  men  are  so  easily 
ensnared  on  going  to  the  city  is  their  will- 
ingness to  be  led  astray. 

"  Our  good  pastor,  Mr.  Mason,  once  spoke 
to  me  on  this  very  subject.  6  It  is  the  heart, 
and  not  the  place,  that  is  in  fault,'  he  observ- 
ed. 'An  unrenewed  man  is  just  as  much  at 
enmity  with  God  among  the  works  of  nature 
that  are  made  beautiful  by  the  finger  of 
Omnipotence  as  in  the  crowded  marts  of  com- 
merce and  trade.  He  may  lack  opportunity, 
but  not  the  will,  to  drink  in  iniquity  like 


114 


WAT  ADAMS. 


water.  ''Keep  the  heart  with  all  diligence, 
for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life.3  It  is 
from  the  heart,  our  Saviour  says,  proceed  evil 
thoughts,  murders,  adulteries.  How  great, 
then,  is  our  need  to  cry  out,  ;  Create  in  me 
a  clean  heart.  O  God.  and  renew  a  right 
spirit  within  me'  ! 

'*  I  remember  all  this  so  well.  Kizzie."  went 
on  her  brother,  modestly.  "  because  it  was 
when  I  was  earnestly  seeking  to  secure  an 
interest  in  Christ  as  my  Saviour.  Mr.  Mason 
used  often  to  invite  me  to  his  study,  and  to 
encourage  me  to  open  my  heart  to  him  freely, 
nor  only  about  religion,  but  other  things,  such 
as  what  I  intended  to  do  in  the  future  and 
the  plans  I  had  formed  for  life.  This  was 
just  before  our  dear  father's  death,  when  I 
had  almost  set  my  heart  on  being  a  machinist, 
and  somehow,  in  conversing  with  Mr.  Mason, 
it  slipped  out.  Then  he  talked  to  me  so 
kindly  and  gave  me  such  good  advice.  I 
think  I  shall  never  forget  it.  One  thing  I 
know  :  if  I  ever  do  fall  into  temptation  and  a 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


115 


snare,  it  will  be  my  own  fault.  For  it  is  an 
old  saying,  6  Forewarned,  forearmed/  " 

"And  we  must  not  forget  the  best  armor, 
either,  dear  Wat — the  word  of  God  and  prayer. 
You  will  need  both  to  keep  you  in  the  right 
way.  Don't  you  remember  how  Christian  in 
the  Pilgrim's  Progress  was  often  led  off  from 
the  narrow  way  to  the  Celestial  City  because 
he  forgot  to  read  the  roll  he  carried  in  his 
bosom,  or  to  call  for  help  on  One  who  is 
mighty  to  save  ?" 

"  What  a  wonderful  old  book  that  is !"  said 
her  brother,  musingly.  "  I  used  to  like  it 
when  a  little  child  because  it  told  such  curious 
stories  about  giants  and  dragons,  and  had 
such  queer  names,  as  Mr.  Peady-to-halt,  Mr. 
Despondency  and  Mrs.  Much-afraid,  his 
daughter.  But  now  that  I  am  a  pilgrim 
myself  I  can  see  the  fitness  and  beauty  of 
the  whole  allegory." 

Thus  the  brother  and  sister  continued  to 

talk  on  this  last  evening  that  they  could 

enjoy  each  other's  society;  for  Keziah  de- 
# 


116 


WAT  ABA  MS. 


clared  that  she  must  now  be  very  busy  in  get- 
ting his  little  stock  of  clothing  in  complete 
order,  since  he  would  soon  have  no  one  to 
care  for  his  comfort. 

In  after  life  Wat  often  looked  back  with 
thankfulness  to  this  little  confidential  chat 
under  the  old  willow  tree.  His  sister's  advice 
was  that  "  word  fitly  spoken  "  which  is  liken- 
ed by  the  wise  man  to  "  apples  of  gold  in 
pictures  of  silver."  They  abode  in  his  mind 
as  "  nails  fastened  in  a  sure  place." 


CHAPTER  XI. 


A  FRIEND  IN  NEED. 

the  third  day  after  leaving  Mr. 

Graham's,  Wat  set  out  on  his  journey. 

So  soon  as  he  could  give  proper  direc- 

^    tions  where  it  was  to  be  left  his  box 

was  to  be  sent  after  him  by  the  lumbering 

stage  that  once  a  week  rattled  along  the 

Holly  turnpike.    Like  his  great  progenitor, 

Adam,  "  the  world  was  all  before  him,"  and 

he  was  about  to  choose  for  himself  "  a  local 

habitation  and  a  name." 

Unlike  most  of  the  young  people  of  his 

age  and  station,  his  ideas  of  city  life  wore 

not  those  glowing  colors  which  fascinate  so 

many,  luring  them  on,  like  the  mirage  of  the 

desert,  only  to  cheat  and  disappoint,  their 

dreams  of  pleasure,  as  the  fabled  apples  of 

Sodom,  turning  to  ashes  in  their  mouths. 

xir 


118 


WAT  ADAMS, 


Wat  was  the  child  of  godly  parents ;  and 
besides  giving  him  to  the  Lord  in  earnest 
prayer,  they  had  striven  according  to  their 
ability  to  bring  him  up  in  the  right  way. 
His  father's  wise  counsels,  his  mother's  gentle 
influence,  had  not  been  lost  upon  him ;  as  seed 
sown  in  good  ground,  they  were  springing  up 
to  bear  fruit  in  his  life.  Then,  too,  like 
Timothy,  he  had  from  a  child  known  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  which  are  as  a  "  lamp  unto 
the  feet  and  a  light  unto  the  path  "  of  those 
who  truly  seek  the  Lord. 

Still,  it  could  not  be  denied  that,  while  our 
young  traveler's  expectations  were  of  a  grave 
and  sober  character,  his  sensations  in  thus 
beginning  life  for  himself  were  not  without 
a  certain  charm  from  their  entire  novelty. 
For  the  first  time  he  must  rely  solely  on  his 
own  exertions,  for  the  first  time  he  must 
think  and  act  independently,  and  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  word  "show  himself  a  man." 
How  happy  in  such  circumstances  to  say, 
with  King  Solomon,  "  Give  thy  servant  an 


Wat  "Seeking  Work. 


Page  ll\ 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  119 

understanding  heart,  that  I  may  discern  be- 
tween good  and  bad." 

Besides,  there  was  something  exhilarating 
in  the  balmy  summer  air  and  in  the  endless 
variety  of  scenery  as  he  walked  briskly 
along,  with  only  the  slight  encumbrance  of 
a  small  leathern  satchel  in  his  hand.  For  the 
first  twenty  miles  or  so  Wat  felt  that  it  was 
a  very  pleasant  thing  to  be  a  pedestrian  and 
free  to  do  as  he  pleased,  instead  of  being 
cramped  up  in  a  crowded  stage-coach  among 
people  whom  he  had  never  met  before  and 
might  never  see  again. 

But  at  the  close  of  his  first  day's  journey, 
and  especially  as  the  evening  set  in  gray  and 
chill,  Wat  could  not  help  experiencing  some- 
thing of  that  friendless,  lonesome  feeling 
which  for  want  of  a  better  name  is  called 
"homesickness."  Not  that  he  wanted  to 
turn  back  again,  but  he  thought  he  would 
have  given  anything  just  then  for  the  sight 
of  a  familiar  face,  the  tone  of  a  voice  that  he 
could  recognize  as  belonging  to  a  friend. 


120 


WAT  ADAMS, 


This  feeling  increased  to  absolute  pain 
when,  on  arriving  at  a  considerable  country- 
town,  his  applications  for  supper  and  lodging 
were  curtly  refused  at  several  houses,  al- 
though he  would  have  been  satisfied  with  the 
coarsest  food  and  a  bed  in  the  fragrant  hay- 
rather  than  seek  for  shelter  and  entertain- 
ment at  the  inn,  where  a  noisy  company  of 
circus-players  had  put  up  for  the  night. 

He  was  obliged  at  last,  however,  to  turn 
his  steps  in  that  direction,  and  was  reluctant- 
ly entering  the  crowded  bar-room  when  he 
heard  his  name  called  by  a  voice  that  he  rec- 
ognized as  belonging  to  a  young  man  who 
had  formerly  lived  in  Holly,  and  to  whom  he 
had  rendered  some  trifling  services  when  they 
were  boys  together. 

"  Wat  Adams  !  can  this  be  you  ?"  he  asked 
in  a  wondering  tone.  "  Where  did  you  spring 
from,  and  to  what  place  are  you  going  alone 
and  on  foot?  for  there  is  no  stage  due  till 
the  day  after  to-morrow." 

"  Yes,  it  is  I,"  replied  Wat,  half  laughing, 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  121 

half  crying,  so  pleased  was  he  to  find  an 
acquaintance  in  this  strange  place,  "  and  I 
never  was  so  glad  to  see  you  before,  Tom 
Dickson.  6  A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend 
indeed.' " 

It  was  Tom  Dickson's  turn  to  laugh  : 

"  I  should  have  known  you  by  that  speech 
if  I  hadn't  seen  your  face,  Wat  Adams.  Do 
you  recollect  how  the  boys  used  to  call  you 
6  Old  Proverbs '  and  laugh  at  you  for  your 
odd  sayings  ?" 

" '  Let  them  laugh  that  win,' "  said  Wat, 
with  rising  spirit  as  he  felt  the  friendly 
grasp  of  Tom's  hard  hands ;  "  '  words  break 
no  bones,  although,  like  a  constant  dropping, 
they  may  wear  out  stones.'  " 

"  What  a  droll  chap  you  are  and  always 
were,  Wat  Adams  !"  said  Tom  as  he  surveyed 
him  from  head  to  foot — "just  the  very  same 
lad  that  used  to  take  my  part  at  Holly  school. 
But  no,  not  the  same,  either.  You've  grown 
broader  and  taller  and  more  manly,  as  if  you 
knew  what  you  were  about  and  intended  to 


122 


WAT  ADAMS, 


do  it.  I'll  bet  a  liat  you're  going  to  seek 
your  fortune,  like  the  boys  in  the  story- 
books." 

"  I  never  bet,  Tom,  but  you  have  guessed 
right.  I  am  going  to  seek  my  fortune,  or 
rather  to  make  my  own  way  in  the  world. 
And  now  tell  me:  is  there  any  chance  of 
my  getting  supper  and  a  bed  here  to-night  ?" 

"  Not  in  the  house,  I'm  sure ;  it's  chock 
full  of  these  player-folk.  But  I  have  a  snug 
little  room  behind  the  stables,  and  you  shall 
share  that,  and  my  bit  of  supper  too,  for  the 
sake  of  old  times,  or  my  name's  not  Tom 
Dickson.  So  come  along,  and  consider  your- 
self my  guest  for  the  night.  It  sha'n't  cost 
you  a  cent,  either,  for  I'm  not  a-going  to  do 
things  by  halves.  Don't  you  mind  how  you 
used  to  share  your  dinners  with  me  at  Holly, 
and  give  me  the  biggest  half  too  ?" 

Wat  did  remember,  and  how  hungry  the 
poor  starved  lad  always  was,  so  that  he  often 
went  without  himself  on  purpose  to  enjoy  the 
luxury  of  seeing  Tom  make  a  hearty  meal. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  123 

" '  A  good  action  never  fails  of  its  re- 
ward/ "  he  said  to  himself  as  Tom,  having 
ushered  him  into  the  little  place  he  called 
his  own,  disappeared  to  procure  the  prom- 
ised supper. 

While  he  was  gone  Wat  had  time  to  look 
about  the  apartment,  which  did  not  in  the 
least  resemble  his  late  comfortable  quarters 
at  Mr.  Graham's.  It  was  a  mere  shed  made 
of  rough  boards,  with  a  hole  for  a  window 
covered  by  a  shutter.  Its  only  furniture 
were  a  narrow  cot  and  a  large  chest,  which 
Wat  supposed  contained  feed  for  the  horses 
rather  than  the  wardrobe  of  the  hostler,  as  a 
number  of  articles  of  clothing  hung  on  pegs 
around  the  sides  of  the  room.  Two  stools  of 
rude  construction  completed  the  accommoda- 
tions, which  were  indeed  all  of  the  humblest 
character.  But  it  was  a  shelter  from  the  rain 
that  now  began  to  beat  in  gusts  around  the 
building,  and  Wat  was  thankful  for  even  this 
poor  retreat  from  the  violence  of  the  storm, 
especially  when,  after  a  considerable  delay, 


124 


WAT  ADAMS, 


Tom  returned  with  a  lighted  stable-lantern, 
a  tin  can  of  hot  coffee  and  a  basket  contain- 
ing a  supply  of  eatables,  which  he  proceeded 
to  arrange  on  the  big  chest,  for  want  of  a 
table. 

"  Cook  is  a  good  friend  of  mine,"  said  the 
good-natured  fellow,  bringing  out  a  cold  roast 
fowl  and  a  piece  of  beefsteak,  with  vegetables 
and  bread ;  "  many's  the  time  IVe  turned  to 
and  helped  her  when  she'd  got  in  a  flurry 
with  her  work.  So  when  she  found  out  I 
had  a  visitor  she  did  her  best.  '  One  good 
turn  deserves  another,'  she  said  as  she  packed 
my  basket." 

"  So  you  have  an  6  Old  Proverbs '  here 
too,"  said  Wat  laughing  as,  by  Tom's  invita- 
tion, he  drew  up  his  stool  and  partook  of  the 
tempting  repast  before  him. 

"  Hunger  is  a  good  sauce,"  he  remarked, 
when  he  had  finished  his  meal ;  "  I  never 
made  a  better  supper  in  my  life,  Tom." 

Tom  was  highly  gratified  with  this  speech, 
and  showed  his  appreciation  of  it  by  extend- 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  125 

ing  his  mouth  in  a  broad  grin  that  made  his 
homely  face  look  very  pleasant  in  spite  of 
tan  and  freckles. 

He  insisted  on  Wat's  occupying  his  bed, 
then,  bringing  in  a  great  bundle  of  straw, 
threw  it  on  the  bare  earthen  floor  and 
covered  it  with  a  horse-blanket,  declaring 
that  "  it  was  good  enough  for  a  king  to  sleep 
on,  especially  if  he  had  a  mind  at  ease  and 
weary  limbs  to  rest,  as  he  had." 

"Which  few  of  them  have,  I'll  be 
bound,"  answered  Wat.  "  There's  a  line  of 
an  old  poem  I've  read  somewhere  that  says, 
'  Uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a  crown.' 
I  believe  I'd  rather  be  the  poor  lad  I  am, 
seeking  for  a  place  to  earn  my  living,  with  a 
conscience  void  of  offence  toward  God  and 
man,  than  the  occupant  of  a  throne,  if  that 
throne  must  be  gained  by  violence  and  op- 
pression. But  there's  another  thing  I've 
been  thinking  about,  Tom,  since  I've  been 
here.  You  remember  the  Saviour  of  the 
world  was  born  in  a  stable  and  cradled  in  a 


126 


WAT  ADAMS, 


manger.  Yes,  and  afterward  he  had  no 
place  to  lay  his  head/'  concluded  Wat,  with 
emotion. 

Tom  thoughtfully  drew  his  fingers  through 
his  shock  of  tawny  red  hair,  looked  up  and 
down,  then  shuffled  his  feet  uneasily. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  don't  know  as  much  as  I 
ought  to  about  such  things — that's  a  fact," 
he  said  at  last.  "  You  see  I'm  kept  drudging 
here  and  there  all  day,  and  at  everybody's 
beck  and  call,  till  at  night  I'm  dead  beat  out 
and  sleep  as  sound  as  a  top.  But  you've  got 
it  all  at  your  finger-ends,  I  take  it ;  can't 
you  tell  a  fellow  something  about  it  ?" 

Glad  of  the  opportunity,  Wat  took  his 
Testament  out  of  the  little  traveling  satchel, 
and  read  those  inimitable  accounts  of  the 
wondrous  Babe  of  Bethlehem  recorded  in 
the  Gospels  by  Matthew  and  Luke,  telling 
how  the  wise  men  of  the  East  were  enabled 
to  find  the  infant  Saviour  by  the  guiding 
star  that  "  went  before  them  until  it  came 
and  stood  over  where  the  young  child  was," 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  127 


and  that  midnight  watch  kept  by  the  shep- 
herds on  the  starlit  plains  of  Judea,  when 
"  an  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon  them,  and 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone  round  about 
them/'  bringing  them  tidings  of  great  joy, 
the  birth  of  Christ  the  Lord.  "And  sud- 
denly there  was  with  the  angel  a  multitude 
of  the  heavenly  host,  praising  God,  and  say- 
ing, Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on 
earth  peace,  good-will  toward  men." 

Thus  did  this  young  disciple  of  Christ 
obey  the  command,  "  In  the  morning  sow 
thy  seed,  and  in  the  evening  withhold  not 
thy  hand,  for  thou  knowest  not  whether  shall 
prosper  either^  this  or  that,  or  whether  they 
both  shall  be  alike  good."  How  often,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  are  these  wayside  efforts 
made  the  means  of  convicting  and  converting 
some  precious  soul  !  Therefore,  "  cast  thy 
bread  upon  the  waters,  for  thou  shalt  find  it 
after  many  days." 


CHAPTER  XII. 


PERSEVERANCE  CONQUERS  DIFFICULTIES, 

^f^HE  next  morning  Wat's  kind  friend 
awoke  him  at  an  early  hour  with  the 
information  that  he  was  ordered  to 
J    convey  a  party  in  a  covered  wagon  to 
a  town  nearly  thirty  miles  distant,  and  as  it 
was  the  very  road  our  young  traveler  was  to 
take  he  was  welcome  to  a  "  lift." 

This  was  very  agreeable  news  to  Wat ;  for 
although  the  storm  of  the  preceding  night 
had  cleared  away  and  the  air  was  delight- 
fully fresh,  the  roads  were  heavy  with  mud, 
so  that  a  journey  on  foot  would  be  neither 
very  pleasant  nor  speedy.  He  lost  no  time, 
therefore,  in  making  his  few  preparations. 
While  Tom  changed  his  stable  rig  for  more 
suitable  clothing,  he  pressed  his  guest  to 
partake  of  the  eatables  he  had  brought 

128 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


129 


with  him  after  taking  his  own  breakfast  in 
the  kitchen. 

When  Wat  had  satisfied  his  appetite,  the 
remnants  of  the  meal  were  carefully  gathered 
up  and  placed  in  the  basket  again,  Tom  ob- 
serving that  they  would  make  a  very  toler- 
able lunch,  and  Wat  and  himself  would 
probably  need  it  before  arriving  at  their 
journey's  end. 

It  was  a  pleasant  drive,  and  Wat,  who 
occupied  a  seat  with  the  driver,  had  a  fine 
opportunity  of  seeing  the  country  and  be- 
coming better  acquainted  with  Tom,  who 
told  him  many  incidents  of  his  own  struggles 
to  get  on  in  the  world  that  were  very  touch- 
ing. He  had  an  aged  mother  to  support 
with  his  earnings,  and  he  was  saving  up  his 
wages,  so  as  to  be  able  to  purchase  her  a 
home  of  her  own  where  she  could  pass  the 
remainder  of  her  days  in  comfort.  In  such 
conversation  the  time  passed  rapidly,  so  that 
Wat  was  surprised  to  find  it  late  in  the  after- 
noon when  the  wagon  stopped.    He  parted 

9 


130 


WAT  ADAMS, 


from  his  companion  with  many  exchanges  of 
good  wishes  on  each  side. 

The  "  lift "  that  Tom  had  given  him,  and 
several  other  rides  offered  by  good-natured 
wagoners  who  were  returning  to  the  city  with 
almost  empty  vehicles,  so  greatly  assisted 
Wat  in  his  journey  that  by  the  dawn  of  the 
third  day  after  leaving  Holly  he  found  him- 
self on  the  outskirts  of  the  city.  The  second 
night  had  been  passed  in  the  shelter  of  a 
large  wagon,  the  lad  sleeping  soundly  under 
the  tow-cloth  cover  while  the  team  plodded 
leisurely  on  its  way.  As  the  kind  driver 
insisted  on  sharing  his  meals  with  him,  as 
well  as  furnishing  him  with  lodging,  Wat 
found  his  traveling  expenses  much  less  than 
he  had  anticipated. 

After  he  had  brushed  his  clothes  and 
taken  breakfast  at  an  inn,  Wat  set  out  to  look 
about  him  and  become  a  little  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  place  in  which  he  hoped 
to  find  his  future  home. 

Thinking  it  too  early  to  go  to  Mr.  Hill's 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


131 


shop,  he  amused  himself  for  an  hour  or  two 
in  walking  through  the  principal  streets  and 
gazing  at  the  various  objects  that  were  dis- 
played in  the  store  windows,  or  admiring  the 
spacious  public  buildings  and  conjecturing 
their  uses. 

After  a  while  he  turned  into  the  street 
where  the  great  machine-shop  was  situated, 
and  knew  by  the  sounds  that  issued  from  its 
open  doors  and  windows  that  he  was  in  the 
right  locality.  As  he  ventured  a  step  within, 
undecided  in  what  direction  to  move  or  to 
whom  he  should  apply  for  information,  Wat's 
heart  began  to  fail  him  for  the  first  time  since 
he  left  Holly.  The  place  was  so  large  and 
so  crowded,  there  were  so  many  men  at  work 
and  the  din  and  confusion  were  so  overpow- 
ering, that  he  felt  quite  bewildered.  If  he 
had  not  been  very  much  in  earnest,  he  would 
have  turned  and  gone  out  without  attending 
to  the  business  that  brought  him  there. 

Just  then,  however,  an  elderly  man  at  the 
door  who  was  filing  at  the  wheels  of  an 


132 


WAT  ADAMS, 


engine  stopped  his  rasping  noise  and  asked 
him  what  he  wanted. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  the  master,  if  you 
could  tell  me  where  to  find  him." 

"Well,  I  can't  just  at  present,  for  he's 
here  one  minute  and  gone  the  next.  But 
just  you  stand  still,  and  he'll  be  sure  to  come 
round  by  and  by.  Mr.  Hill's  a  man  who 
likes  to  keep  a  sharp  eye  on  his  workmen." 

Wat  was  very  glad  to  do  as  he  was  told — 
stand  still  and  look  about  him.  He  observed 
that  some  of  the  men  had  very  fine  work  to 
do,  and  were  obliged  to  be  very  close  and  at- 
tentive to  the  different  parts  they  were  fit- 
ting together,  while  others  were  evidently 
just  learning  the  trade,  and  therefore  only 
set  to  do  the  rougher  and  coarser  work  of  the 
shop. 

Among  this  last  class  Wat  noticed  a  youth 
about  his  own  age,  with  a  very  pleasant 
countenance  and  a  mouth  that  seemed  ready 
to  smile  whenever  any  one  spoke  to  him  or 
he  chanced  to  meet  the  eyes  of  his  compan- 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  133 

ions.  He  looked  up  so  often  from  the  piece 
of  steel  lie  was  polishing  to  gaze  at  Wat  as 
quite  to  take  the  latter's  attention,  and  he 
could  not  help  wishing  that  he  would  come 
and  speak  to  him,  for  he  was  sure  he  could 
talk  to  him  much  more  freely  than  to  the 
grave-looking  man  who  had  first  accosted 
him. 

He  had  his  wish  before  long ;  for  under 
pretence  of  needing  some  assistance  in  his 
work,  the  young  man  walked  over  to  where 
Wat  was  standing,  and  after  receiving  direc- 
tions about  the  article  he  was  shaping  signed 
to  him  to  follow  him  to  his  work-bench  by 
one  of  the  windows,  where  he  proceeded  to 
make  him  acquainted  with  what  was  passing 
around  them  and  give  him  some  information 
about  the  various  pieces  of  machinery.  Then 
he  began  to  point  out  one  and  another  of 
his  fellow-workmen  and  relate  the  peculiari- 
ties of  each. 

"  That  is  Seth  Watkins  over  there  in  the 
engine-room.  B  We  call  him  deaf  Watkins, 


134 


WAT  ADAMS, 


because  he  is  always  so  intent  on  "his  work 
that  he  never  seems  to  hear  anything  short 
of  a  thunderbolt.  But  he  knows  quick 
enough  when  we  are  talking  or  neglecting 
our  work  if  he  chances  to  lift  those  sharp 
eyes  of  his  and  look  this  way.  So  we  must 
be  careful." 

"  Is  it  against  the  rules  to  talk  ?"  asked 
Wat. 

"Not  if  we  keep  straight  on  working. 
See,  I  have  almost  finished  this  job  since 
you  came  here,  if  I  have  talked.  I  hope  it 
will  please  old  Regis." 

"  Old  Eegis  !    Who  is  he  ?" 

"  The  man  by  the  door  who  spoke  to  you 
when  you  first  came  in.  He  is  an  English- 
man, and  his  name  is  Reginald." 

"  Then  he  is  your  king,  I  suppose  ?"  said 
Wat,  laughing. 

"  Our  king  !  What  do  you  mean  ?  Oh,  I 
know  now — rex,  regis,  regi.  Confess,  con- 
fess !"  he  cried,  suddenly  taking  Wat  by  both 
shoulders  and  giving  him  a  hearty  shake — 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


135 


"  confess  that  you  said  that  just  to  let  me 
know  you  understood  Latin." 

"And  you  the  same/'  said  Wat,  freeing 
himself  from  the  other's  grasp,  and  not  a  lit- 
tle amused  at  being  taken  up  so  quickly. 

"Well,  I  won't  deny  a  slight  smattering 
of  it.  And  now  I  will  tell  you  who  I  am. 
My  name  is  Raymond  or  Ray  Colton — you 
may  call  me  Ray  if  you  like — and  I  am  the 
youngest  workman  in  Mr.  Hill's  shop,  hav- 
ing to  drudge  for  the  whole  of  them.  I  sup- 
pose you  will  take  my  place  now.  You 
mean  to  stay,  don't  you  ?" 

"  I  can't  tell." 

"  But  you  came  here  to  get  a  place  ?" 
"  Yes." 

"  Don't  you  think  you  should  like  it  ?" 

"  Very  much." 

"  Do  you  know  Mr.  Hill  ?" 

"  I  have  never  seen  him." 

"  Does  he  know  anything  about  you  ?" 

"  Nothing." 

Ray  fixed  his  bright  eyes  for  a  moment  on 


136 


WAT  ADAMS, 


Wat's  face,  then  burst  into  a  laugh,  which 
was  fortunately  smothered  by  the  loud  "whir, 
whir  "  of  the  machinery. 

"Well,"  he  said,  when  his  merriment  was 
over,  "you  are  non-committal  with  a  ven- 
geance. Here  have  I  been  chattering  away 
to  you  like  a  magpie,  and  you  answer  all  my 
questions  with  monosyllables." 

"  Because  I  have  heard  that  '  a  wise  head 
keeps  a  close  mouth/ "  replied  Wat,  who 
could  not  help  thinking  his  new  acquaintance 
rather  inquisitive. 

He  had  scarcely  uttered  these  words  when 
a  hand  was  laid  on  his  shoulder  and  a  fa- 
miliar voice  exclaimed, 

"  Old  Proverbs,  as  I  live !" 

Wat  colored  up  and  for  a  moment  felt 
annoyed,  for  he  had  not  expected  his  boyish 
nickname  to  follow  him  here.  But  he  con- 
quered his  vexation  quickly  and  turned  to 
greet  his  former  schoolmate  Frank  Harris, 
who  with  a  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
escorted  by  the  proprietor,  Mr.  Hill,  was 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


137 


viewing  the  machinery,  which  the  master  of 
the  shop  explained  to  them  as  they  went 
along. 

"You  see  father  and  I  came  down  on  a 
visit  to  my  uncle,  and  we  are  out  sight- 
seeing," said  the  young  man.  "  Father  and 
Mr.  Hill  are  old  acquaintances;  besides,  he 
takes  a  great  interest  in  machinery  of  all 
kinds,  and  we  heard  they  were  building  a 
famous  large  engine  here.  You  want  to  be 
a  machinist,  don't  you  ?  Your  old  idea,  I 
remember." 

"  I  do,  indeed.  Is  that  Mr.  Hill  talking 
with  your  father  ?  I  should  like  to  get  a 
chance  to  speak  to  him." 

"Should  you?  Then  I'll  introduce  you 
right  away,  and  speak  a  good  word  for  you 
besides.  '  Strike  while  the  iron's  hot ' — isn't 
that  one  of  your  sayings,  Wat?  Mr.  Hill, 
here's  a  friend  of  mine  who  wants  a  place  in 
your  shop.  He's  quite  a  genius  in  his  way — 
a  born  mechanic,  in  fact.  Old  Proverbs,  this 
is  Mr.  Hill." 


138 


WAT  ADAMS, 


"  Who  did  you  say  ?"  asked  the  master  of 
the  shop  in  some  surprise  and  looking 
curiously  at  Wat. 

"  I  beg  his  pardon,  and  yours  too/'  said  the 
flippant  youth ;  "we  used  to  call  him  so  at 
school  because  he  was  always  coming  out  with 
some  wise  saying  or  other." 

"  What  is  your  name  ?"  said  Mr.  Hill, 
turning  to  young  Adams,  who  looked 
ashamed  both  for  himself  and  his  old  school- 
mate, for  he  thought  he  was  speaking  too 
glibly  and  showing  a  want  of  proper  respect 
for  those  who  were  older  than  he. 

"  Walter  Franklin  Adams,"  replied  the 
lad,  at  the  same  time  making  a  polite  bow  to 
Mr.  Hill. 

"Well,  Walter  Franklin  Adams,  you 
want  a  place  in  my  machine-shop, do  you?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Wat,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Are  you  aware  that  I  am  in  the  habit  of 
requiring  some  testimonial  of  good  cha- 
racter— a  letter  of  recommendation  from 
your  former  employer  or  the  like  ?" 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


139 


"  I  never  was  employed  by  any  person  but 
one,  and  he  said  it  would  make  me  more 
manly  and  self-reliant  if  I  applied  for  the 
place  without  any  one  to  speak  a  good 
word  for  me/'  answered  Wat,  modestly  but 
.  firmly. 

"  There  he  was  mistaken,"  said  Mr.  Hill. 
"It  is  against  my  rules  to  employ  about  my 
establishment  either  men  or  boys  of  whom  I 
know  nothing  whatever.  But  I  will  not  deny 
that  I  like  your  looks,  my  lad,  and  your 
straightforward  manner  of  speaking.  So  I 
will  talk  with  my  good  friend  here,  as  both 
he  and  his  son  seem  to  be  well  acquainted 
with  you ;  and  if  his  account  of  you  is  favor- 
able, I  may  be  induced  to  take  you  into  my 
shop,  after  all — at  least  on  trial." 
Wat's  eyes  sparkled  with  pleasure  : 
"  When  may  I  come  to  you  for  an  answer, 
sir?" 

"  To-morrow — no,  not  to-morrow,  either, 
for  I  am  going  out  of  town  and  shall  be 
absent  for  several  days.    And  that  reminds 


1-40 


WAT  ADAMS, 


me.  Seth !  Seth  Watkins  !"  shouting  to  the 
deaf  man  in  the  engine-room  ;  "  number  five 
must  be  in  good  working  trim  by  the  time 
I  come  back,  for  I  expect  a  party  of  engi- 
neers to  examine  it  with  a  view  of  purchas- 
ing.   So  look  out,  my  man,  and  be  sharp." 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  answered  the  overseer, 
who  was  standing  with  his  hand  formed  into 
an  ear-trumpet  in  order  to  catch  the  sound 
of  his  employer's  voice. 

Full  of  business  cares,  the  latter  was  about 
to  turn  in  another  direction  without  giving 
a  final  answer  to  Wat,  but  the  lad  ventured  to 
follow  him  and  touch  him  on  the  arm : 

"  You  have  not  told  me,  sir,  when  I  shall 
call  again." 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  said  the  preoccupied 
man,  looking  at  the  youth  with  momentary 
forgetfulness.  "  Oh  yes ;  I  remember  now. 
Well,  Walter  What's-your-name,  you  must 
be  here  precisely  at  ten  o'clock  this  day 
week,  and  I  will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you." 

How  carelessly  the  words  were  uttered,  yet 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  141 


how  heavily  they  fell  on  Wat's  ears !  It 
was  easy  for  the  rich  manufacturer,  who 
lived  in  abundance  and  had  a  comfortable 
home,  to  put  him  off  thus,  but  to  the  poor 
youth  with  a  single  dollar  note  in  his  pocket, 
and  a  stranger  in  a  large  city,  without  a  place 
to  go  to,  it  seemed  a  long  time  to  wait. 

He  put  a  brave  face  on  the  matter,  how- 
ever, and  even  endured  without  flinching  the 
raillery  of  his  new  acquaintance,  Ray  Colton, 
as  he  passed  his  bench. 

"  Didn't  Mr.  Hill  hit  the  right  nail  on  the 
head  that  time  ?"  said  the  lively  young  man, 
after  making  several  witty  speeches. 

"How  so?"  asked  Wat. 

"  Why  he  said  What's-your-name,  and  so 
it  is." 

"  I  don't  understand  you." 

" Ain't  your  name  Wat?  I  heard  that 
flashy  young  gent  call  you  so.  How  dull 
you  are,  don't  you  see  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  see,"  said  Wat,  smiling  and  mov- 
ing to  the  door. 


142 


WAT  ADAMS, 


"  Hallo !  don't  be  in  such  a  hurry/'  called 
Ray  after  him.  "  One  would  think  you  had 
some  great  business  on  hand.  Come  back 
here ;  I  want  to  talk  to  you.  Now  tell  me 
honestly,  what  are  you  going  to  do  for  board 
and  lodging  during  the  week  you  have  to 
wait  for  Mr.  Hill's  answer  ?" 

Wat  stretched  out  both  his  hands  with  a 
comical  look.  His  spirits  were  rising  with 
the  emergency. 

"  I  have  ten  good  servants  to  wait  on  me, 
you  see/'  he  answered,  with  no  little  pride. 
"  For  the  rest,  I  intend  to  say,  like  the  unjust 
steward  in  the  parable,  only  with  this  differ- 
ence, 'I  cannot  beg,  but  to  dig  I  am  not 
ashamed.'" 

"I  don't  know  anything  about  stewards 
and  parables,"  said  Ray,  "  but  I  do  know  this, 
that  you  have  the  right  metal  in  you,  and 
I'm  sure  you  will  succeed.  But  I  have  just 
thought  of  a  plan.  What  do  you  say  to 
sharing  my  room  at  nights  until  you  can  get 
better  quarters  ?    It  is  not  wise  nor  safe  for 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


143 


you  to  go  wandering  about  the  streets  in 
search  of  chance  lodgings.  You  may  meet 
with  those  who  will  not  scruple  to  strip  you 
to  the  skin  for  the  sake  of  the  clothes  you 
wear,  or  at  least  fleece  you  of  all  your  money. 
Though  I  must  say  you  do  not  seem  to  be 
remarkably  verdant  or,  like  'a  young  bird, 
easily  caught  with  chaff.'  I  should  think 
you  have  'an  old  head  on  young  shoulders.' " 
Wat  laughed  as  he  thought  to  himself  that 
his  new  friend  seemed  to  be  very  well  ac- 
quainted with  proverbs  too.  But  he  wras 
very  grateful  for  his  kind  offer..  He  knew 
there  was  danger  of  his  falling  into  bad  com- 
pany by  seeking  for  lodgings  in  obscure 
neighborhoods,  and  in  the  present  state  of 
his  finances  a  respectable  hotel  was  out  of 
the  question.  So  he  thanked  Ray  heartily 
for  his  invitation,  and  promised  to  be  at  the 
door  of  the  machine-shop  at  six  o'clock  that 
evening,  which  was  the  hour  for  leaving  off 
work  all  the  year  round. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


NO  PAINS,  NO  GAINS. 

UNCTUAL  to  the  minute,  Wat,  for 
the  second  time  that  day,  turned  in 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Hill's  establish- 
ment. The  workmen  were  pouring 
out  of  the  great  doors  of  the  shop  in  a  steady 
stream,  and  among  them  he  saw  his  new 
friend,  plainly  to  be  distinguished  by  the 
jaunty  air  with  which  his  cap  was  set  on  one 
side  of  his  curly  head  and  the  smile  that 
seemed  habitual  to  his  pleasant  face. 

"Well,"  said  Ray  as  he  tossed  his  working- 
jacket  over  one  shoulder  and  slung  his  tin 
dinner-pail  over  the  other,  "you  look  as 
bright  as  if  you  had  found  a  gold-mine." 

"  Not  quite,"  answered  Wat,  laughing, 
"but  I  have  found  some  work  to  do,  and 

144 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


145 


that  pleases  me  in  my  present  circumstances 
quite  as  well." 

"  You  foolish  fellow !"  exclaimed  Ray  ; 
"  don't  you  know  if  you  had  the  gold  you 
would  have  no  need  to  work  like  a  slave  for 
your  living  ?  But  come,  tell  me  all  about  it 
as  we  go  along." 

"  Well,"  said  Wat,  "  you  know  I  had  no 
great  encouragement  to  begin  with.  After 
what  Mr.  Hill  said  this  morning  about  my 
needing  a  letter  of  recommendation  before  I 
could  hope  to  get  a  situation  anywhere,  I 
thought  it  best  to  keep  away  from  all  the  large 
stores  and  public  places  lest  I  should  meet 
with  another  disappointment.  But  when  I  left 
home,  I  determined  on  two  things.  One  was 
never  to  despair  under  any  circumstances, 
for  '  it  is  always  the  darkest  just  before  day- 
break.' Another  was  to  be  willing  to  do  any 
kind  of  work,  no  matter  how  mean  or  poor 
it  is,  if  it  enable  me  to  earn  an  honest  liv- 
ing. 

"That's  right;  stick  to  those  principles 
10 


146 


WAT  ADAMS, 


and  you're  a  made  man,  "Wat.  May  I  call 
you  Wat  ?"  added  Ray,  stretching  out  his 
hand  to  the  lad  to  whom  he  had  taken  such 
a  fancy. 

"  That  you  may/'  said  the  other,  returning 
the  hearty  grasp.  "  I  shall  never  forget  your 
kindness  when  I  was  a  perfect  stranger  to 
you.  If  I  had  not  wanted  the  place  so 
much,  I  really  think  I  should  have  given  up 
and  left  the  shop  had  you  not  noticed  me  as 
you  did." 

"  And  old  Regis — you  forgot  him ;  he  spoke 
to  you  first.  Besides,  let  me  tell  you,  Mr. 
Hill  treated  you  first  rate  for  him.  He  must 
have  been  pleased  with  you,  or  he  would 
never  have  told  you  to  come  again.  '  Be  off/ 
and  *  I  want  no  loafers  about  here/  are  his 
gruff  replies,  in  general,  to  those  who  are 
seeking  for  work  on  their  own  hook." 

"  If  I  am  ever  a  rich  man  and  have  an 
establishment  of  my  own,"  began  Wat,  in  an 
excited  tone,  "  I  will  never  treat  a  poor  boy 
in  that  heartless  manner.    No  one  can  feel 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  147 

for  those  who  are  struggling  to  make  a  liv- 
ing like  one  who  has  experienced  the  hard- 
ships and  bitter  trials  of  poverty.  How  did 
Mr.  Hill  know  whether  or  not  I  had  a  cent 
in  my  pocket  to  buy  bread  with,  or  a  place 
to  sleep  in  at  night  ?" 

"  Very  little  he  cared,  I  presume ;  or  if  he 
thought  at  all  on  the  subject,  he  saw  by  the 
blink  of  your  eye  that  you  wasn't  the  chap 
to  sit  down  and  starve  if  you  could  find  a 
job  to  put  your  hand  to.  And  now,  to 
begin  where  we  left  off,  what  did  you  do  ?" 

"  Went  down  to  the  wharf  and  waited  for 
the  steamboats  to  come  in.  There  were  lots 
of  porters  and  hackmen  watching  for  the 
passengers'  baggage,  and  almost  snatching  it 
up  without  their  leave.  But  one  pleasant- 
looking  old  gentleman  stood  guard  over  his, 
and  would  not  let  any  one  touch  it,  for  he 
was  waiting  for  his  own  carriage.  Seeing  by 
my  looks,  I  suppose,  that  I  wanted  a  job,  he 
beckoned  me  to  him  and  told  me  to  take  his 
place  while  he  went  into  a.  neighboring  shop. 


148 


WAT  ADAMS, 


Afterward  I  helped  his  man  to  put  all  the 
parcels  into  the  carriage  and  buckle  the 
large  leathern  trunk  on  behind ;  for  which 
service  the  gentleman  rewarded  me  with  a 
quarter  of  a  dollar." 

"And  that  just  paid  for  your  dinner,  so  it 
goes  for  nothing,"  remarked  Ray. 

"  No,  indeed.  I  had  eaten  a  hearty  break- 
fast and  could  do  very  well  without  dinner. 
I  went  along  a  street  or  two  farther,  and  saw 
a  man  dumping  a  load  of  coal  on  to  the 
pavement  of  a  large  handsome  house.  The 
gentleman  was  standing  at  the  door,  and  I 
asked  him  if  he  would  hire  me  to  shovel  the 
coal  into  his  cellar.  He  looked  me  over 
from  head  to  foot,  and  then  asked  me  ever 
so  many  questions,  until  before  I  knew  I 
had  told  him  everything  about  myself.  But 
I  needed  to  look  no  farther  after  that,  for  he 
not  only  gave  me  the  job  I  wanted  and  paid 
me  well  for  it,  but  when  I  was  going  away 
he  handed  me  a  business  card  and  told  me  I 
should  come  to  his  store  to-morrow,  and  he 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


149 


would  give  me  employment  as  long  as  I 
needed  it." 

"And  I  suppose,  if  he  hadn't  done  so, 
you  would  have  turned  shoeblack  or  street- 
sweeper,  or  something  of  the  kind  ?"  laughed 
Eay. 

"  There  is  not  the  least  doubt  of  it,"  said 
Wat,  joining  in  the  laugh  ;  "  anything  to  turn 
an  honest  penny,  you  know." 

"  Yes,"  returned  Ray ;  "  and  I  must  not 
forget,  either,  that  after  shoveling  coal  all  the 
afternoon  you'll  be  likely  to  have  a  mon- 
strous appetite.  So  just  wait  a  minute — that's 
a  good  fellow — while  I  step  into  this  shop  and 
buy  a  few  extras  for  our  supper." 

Wat  stopped  his  companion  and  would 
have  forced  a  part  of  his  day's  earnings  on 
him  to  pay  his  share  of  the  expenses.  But 
Ray  refused  to  take  the  money,  insisting  that 
Wat  was  at  present  his  guest  and  it  was  his 
place  to  act  the  part  of  entertainer.  If  they 
continued  to  live  together,  as  he  hoped  and 
expected  they  would,  Wat  should  be  allowed 


150 


WAT  ADAMS, 


to  contribute  his  part  of  the  necessary  out- 
lay. 

A  short  walk  further  brought  them  to 
Ray's  lodgings,  which  were  in  the  garret  of 
a  large  tenement-house,  built,  as  such  houses 
are,  for  the  accommodation  of  many  families, 
having  a  stairway  common  to  all  and  a  land- 
ing-place at  each  story.  But  it  was  in  a 
healthy,  respectable  neighborhood,  and  its 
open  windows,  looking  to  the  west,  com- 
manded a  fair  prospect  of  a  range  of  purple 
hills  on  the  distant  horizon,  besides  affording 
them  a  purer  and  cooler  air  than  was  enjoyed 
by  their  neighbors  below. 

Wat  wras  well  satisfied  with  his  friend's 
apartment.  It  was  scrupulously  neat,  the  few 
articles  of  furniture  arranged  in  most  order- 
ly manner,  and  even  a  touch  of  refinement 
shown  by  the  presence  of  a  pot  or  two  of 
tea-roses  and  geraniums  that  were  placed  on 
one  of  the  windowT-sills. 

"  So  you  like  those  things,  do  you  ?"  asked 
Kay  as  Wat  bent  over  the  beautiful  flowers, 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  151 

inhaling  tlieir  peculiar  fragrance  and  think- 
ing of  home  and  friends. 

Why  is  it  that  the  odor  of  some  particular 
plant  or  blossom  brings  back  scenes  that 
have  faded  from  our  minds  like  a  troubled 
dream  ? 

"  Indeed  I  do/'  said  Wat ;  "  and  I  am  glad 
to  see  that  you  are  fond  of  them  too.  6  A 
man  is  known  by  the  company  he  keeps.' " 

"  Why  do  you  say  that?"  asked  Ray,  who 
was  rummaging  the  closet  for  plates  and 
glasses,  which  he  proceeded  to  arrange  on  the 
table  with  less  awkwardness  than  might 
have  been  expected. 

"  I  have  read  somewhere  that  the  love  of 
flowers  shows  a  pure  and  simple  taste,  and  a 
depraved  mind  seldom  takes  pleasure  in  any- 
thing so  innocent  and  lovely." 

"  See  here/'  said  Ray,  pausing  in  the  act 
of  cutting  huge  slices  of  bread  and  butter 
and  piling  them  in  a  sort  of  pyramid  on  a 
large  plate ;  "  I  don't  want  you  to  think  me 
any  better  than  I  really  am.    I  know  that  I 


152 


WAT  ADAMS, 


am  a  sad  wild  fellow,  and  perhaps  you  won't 
like  me  so  well  when  you  come  to  be  better 
acquainted  with  me.  But  I  do  love  those 
Howers  as  if  they  were  a  part  of  myself. 
They  belonged  to  my  dear  Paul,  and  he  left 
them  to  me." 

"  Who  was  Paul  ?"  asked  Wat,  in  a  low, 
reverent  tone,  for  he  knew  he  was  speaking 
of  the  dead. 

"A  friend  of  mine  who  came  with  me 
from  the  country.  He  was,  like  myself,  an 
orphan  and  obliged  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world.  But  he  was  ill  fitted  for  its  hard- 
ships. Slender,  pale  and  delicately  formed, 
he  seemed  too  good  for  earth.  If  there  is 
any  redeeming  trait  in  my  character,  I  owe 
it  to  his  precepts  and  example,  though  I 
often  chafed  sorely  under  his  well-merited 
rebukes. 

"  Well,  he  found  a  place,  but  not  in  the 
business  that  I  chose.  He  was  fond  of  books, 
and  wanted  to  be  a  printer.  I  believe  he 
was  getting  along  very  well  in  his  trade,  and 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


153 


was  in  high  favor  with  his  employer,  when 
in  crossing  the  street  one  dark  winter's  morn- 
ing on  his  wav  to  the  office  he  was  knocked 
down  by  a  team,  and  the  wagon  passed  right 
over  his  body.  The  first  thing  I  knew  about 
it  was  when  he  sent  me  a  message  from  the 
hospital,  where  they  carried  him  after  the 
accident,  to  come  and  see  him  before  he 
died." 

"  Did  he  die  very  soon  ?"  asked  Wat,  with 
much  interest. 

"  No,  not  for  several  weeks,  and  he  suffered 
a  great  deal  of  pain.  But  he  was  so  patient 
and  so  resigned  to  what  he  said  was  his 
heavenly  Father's  will  that  it  was  good  to 
be  with  him.  His  employer  and  many  other 
kind  friends  visited  him  constantly.  A  lady 
brought  him  these  two  pots  of  flowers  and 
placed  them  on  a  stand  close  by  his  bed,  so 
that  he  might  have  something  fresh  and 
green  to  look  at.  I  shall  never  forget  how 
his  eyes  brightened  at  the  sight  of  them. 
He  stretched  out  his  wrasted  hands  to  touch 


154 


WAT  ADAMS, 


thein,  and  afterward  in  his  sleep  I  heard 
him  saying  very  softly  something  about 
'  happy  bowers 9  and  £  Eden.'  " 

"  I  know  that/'  said  Wat,  eagerly.  And 
he  went  on  to  repeat  the  verse : 

"  '  There  happier  bowers  than  Eden's  bloom, 
Nor  sin  nor  sorrow  know  ; 
Blest  seats  !  through  rude  and  stormy  scenes 
I  onward  press  to  you.'  " 

"  Yes,  that  was  it,"  continued  Ray.  "  He 
was  always  going  over  such  things — hymns 
and  verses  of  Scripture  he  had  learnt  in  the 
Sunday-school  at  home.  If  ever  there  was  a 
Christian,  I  believe  he  wTas  one.  Indeed,  his 
earnest  words  and  prayers  for  me  on  that 
dying  bed  almost  made  me  resolve  to  be  a 
Christian  too." 

"  Almost,  Ray !  and  why  not  really  and 
truly  a  follower  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?" 
asked  his  friend,  solemnly,  as  he  looked  into 
Ray's  exjxressive  countenance  and  saw 
through  all  its  seeming  lightness  and  frivol- 
ity indications  of  more  serious  feelings. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  155 

"  Oh,"  cried  Ray,  trying  to  laugh  off  the 
question,  but  succeeding  very  poorly  in  his 
effort  to  do  so,  "  how  was  I  to  make  myself 
good,  I'd  like  to  know?  Some  people  are 
picked  out  for  vessels  of  wrath,  the  preachers 
say,  and  maybe  I  am  one." 

"  Don't,  Ray,"  said  Wat,  with  a  shocked 
face ;  "  please  don't  jest  on  such  an  awful 
subject.  Think  what  it  must  be  to  bear  the 
wrath  of  an  offended  God !" 

"  But  God  certainly  made  us  as  he  pleased  ; 
we  can't  change  our  own  hearts,  can  we  ?" 
said  Ray,  using  the  commonplace  argument 
of  the  skeptic. 

"  No,  but  God  leaves  us  free  to  choose 
whether  we  will  accept  his  invitations  or  not. 
The  Scriptures  are  full  of  gracious  calls: 
6  Come,  now,  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the 
Lord :  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they 
shall  be  as  white  as  snow ;  though  they  be  red 
like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as  wool.'  Have 
you  a  Bible,  Ray  ?" 

"  No,"  said  his  companion,  looking  round  at 


156 


WAT  ADAMS, 


the  few  books  that  were  piled  on  the  mantel- 
shelf ;  "  I'm  ashamed  to  say  I  haven't." 

Wat  took  out  his  little  Testament,  the  one 
from  which  he  had  read  two  nights  before  to 
Tom  in  the  stable,  and  found  several  marked 
passages : 

"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
"Come,  for  all  things  are  now  ready."  "Him 
that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast 
out."  "  And  the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say, 
Come,  and  let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come,  and 
let  him  that  is  athirst  come,  and  whosoever 
will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely." 

"  You  see,"  continued  Wat,  "  we  must 
come  to  Jesus  before  we  can  receive  the 
blessings  of  rest  and  peace  and  the  waters  of 
salvation,  although  they  are  given  freely  and 
fully,  without  money  and  without  price." 

Ray  nodded  a  little  uneasily,  but  made  no 
other  reply.    His  friend  went  on  : 

"  It  seems  to  me  just  this  way,  Ray  :  Even 
if  wTe  don't  much  feel  our  need,  we  must 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


157 


knock  and  ask,  and  the  Bible  says  we  must 
do  so.  Now,  to  bring  it  down  to  com- 
mon things,  if  we  want  to  get  employment, 
we  don't  wait  till  a  man  comes  along  and 
hires  us,  do  we  ?  We  are  very  earnest  about 
that ;  but  when  it  comes  to  seeking  the  sal- 
vation of  our  souls,  we  think  we  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it.  Yet  there  are  no 
gains  without  pains." 

Wat's  eyes  had  grown  very  luminous 
during  this  little  talk,  that  had  followed  so 
naturally  the  account  of  young  Paul's  happy 
deathbed,  and  his  heart  glowed  with  the 
thought  that  perhaps  his  added  testimony 
to  the  truths  of  the  gospel  might  have  some 
influence  on  his  companion.  How  great  was 
his  disappointment,  then,  when  Ray  suddenly 
broke  into  a  mocking  laugh  and  exclaimed, 

"  Well,  Wat  Adams,  you  had  better  give 
up  learning  to  be  a  machinist  and  study  for 
a  preacher.  I  haven't  heard  a  finer  sermon 
this  long  time.  And  now  come,  let  us  have 
our  supper.    It's  well  all  the  eatables  are 


158 


WAT  ADAMS. 


cold,  for  you  have  said  so  long  a  grace  that 
if  they  had  been  hot  they  would  have  been 
quite  spoiled." 

Wat  felt  aggrieved  and  hurt,  for  he  had 
been  drawn  on  by  Ray's  serious  manner  to 
unbosom  himself  freely  on  a  subject  that  he 
seldom  talked  about  before  strangers.  Not 
that  he  was  ashamed  of  his  religion  nor  of 
Jesus  his  Master,  but  he  disliked  to  hear 
the  name  he  so  much  loved  and  honored 
treated  with  so  little  reverence. 

If  he  had  known  more  of  human  nature 
and  the  workings  of  conviction  in  the  heart, 
he  might  have  seen  that  Ray's  light  and  friv- 
olous manner  was  put  on  to  conceal  the  striv- 
ings of  an  awakened  conscience.  The  death 
of  his  young  friend  had  alarmed  and  warned 
him,  but  he  struggled  to  be  free  from  his 
convictions,  and  was  vainly  trying,  by  per- 
sisting in  a  course  of  sin  and  folly,  to  get  rid 
of  them  altogether. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
PUNCTUALITY  IS  THE  SOUL  OF  BUSINESS. 

HE  week  of  Wat's  probation  passed 
away  much  more  quickly  than  he 
had  at  first  thought  possible.  The 
clock  was  just  striking  ten  on  the 
day  of  his  appointment  with  Mr.  Hill  when 
he  stood  before  that  gentleman  in  his  private 
office,  where  he  was  busy  with  his  books  and 
papers. 

The  great  manufacturer  pushed  up  his 
spectacles  on  his  forehead,  glanced  at  the 
timepiece  over  the  mantel,  then  at  Wat,  and 
looked  pleased. 

"  You  are  very  punctual  to  your  engage- 
ments," he  observed. .  "  That  is  right ;  I  like 
that — seems  like  business.  Few  are  apt  to  be 
so,  though." 

Mr.  Hill  was  a  little,  thin,  wiry  man,  sharp 

159 


160 


WAT  ADAMS, 


and  quick  in  his  movements,  and  bringing 
out  his  words  with  a  kind  of  jerk. 

"  I  once  lost  a  large  sum  of  money  by 
being  a  few  minutes  too  late/'  he  continued. 
"  The  steamboat  went  without  me,  the  con- 
tract was  given  to  some  one  else,  and  I 
learned  a  lesson.  I  suppose  you  know  that 
sixty  minutes  make  an  hour,  young  man  ?" 

Wat  controlled  his  inclination  to  smile 
with  some  difficulty,  and  answered  soberly  in 
the  affirmative. 

"Well,  then,  never  forget  it;  that's  all 
I've  got  to  say  to  you  about  that.  And  now 
what  have  you  been  doing  with  yourself 
since  you  were  here  last  week  ?  Getting  into 
all  sorts  of  scrapes,  I  suppose,  and  spending 
your  money  in  sight-seeing  ?" 

"  I  hadn't  much  to  spend,  sir,"  said  Wat, 
quietly,  "  and  so  I  set  myself  to  earn  some." 

"  Ah,  indeed  !  and  who  employed  you  ?" 

"Mr.  Thatcher,  sir,  at  No.  —  South 
Wharves.  I  swept  out  his  office  and  went  on 
errands  for  him." 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


161 


"And  he  liked  you,  I  presume?  Why 
didn't  you  stay  with  him,  then  ?" 

"  I  liked  Mr.  Thatcher  very  much  indeed. 
He  is  the  kindest  and  best  gentleman  I  have 
seen  in  a  long  while,"  answered  Wat,  his 
voice  quivering  a  little,  for  he  felt  instinct- 
ively that  Mr.  Hill  was  amusing  himself 
with  him. 

"  Well,"  continued  the  man  of  business, 
"  then  you  didn't  suit  him  ?" 

"  He  said  I  did,  sir ;  he  was  very  good. 
But  you  had  promised  me,  and  I  had  prom- 
ised you,  so  it  was  a  kind  of  a  bargain.  And 
I  want  so  much  to  be  a  machinist." 

"  Hey  !  you  do,  do  you  ?  Well,  if  I  take 
you  into  my  shop,  you  must  be  very  indus- 
trious and  stick  close  to  business ;  I  want  no 
shirkers  about  me." 

"  I  will  try  my  very  best,  sir.  I  don't 
intend  to  be  idle  if  I  can  help  it." 

"And  I  don't  intend  you  shall  if  I  can 
help  it,  either,"  rejoined  Mr.  Hill.   "And  now 

let  us  settle  about  your  wages.    You'll  spoil 

11 


162 


WAT  ADAMS, 


enough  brass  and  steel  to  begin  with — learners 
always  do — so  you  can't  expect  me  to  give  you 
much  until  you  can  make  yourself  useful. 
When  you  do,  you  may  look  to  have  your 
wages  raised,  but  not  before." 

Wat  had  not  expected  anything  else,  so 
that  he  was  not  disappointed.  His  friend  Mr. 
Thatcher  had  suggested  to  him  the  probabil- 
ity that  for  some  time  his  wages  would  be 
low,  and  offered  to  give  him  some  writing  to 
do  in  the  evenings  to  help  him  along  until 
he  learned  his  trade. 

He  was  not  ill  pleased,  either,  to  find  that 
he  was  to  occupy  a  place  by  Reginald,  the 
Englishman,  and  take  instructions  from  him 
in  the  mysteries  of  his  craft.  Ray  was  too 
giddy  and  talkative  to  be  a  proper  companion 
for  a  new  beginner,  and  Wat  had  no  mind  to 
get  into  disgrace  with  his  employer  by  not 
minding  his  business.  So  he  went  to  the  old 
machinist  and  delivered  Mr.  Hill's  message, 
which  was  to  allow  him  to  look  on  and  see 
how  the  work  was  done,  and  give  him  some 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  163 


easy  job  whenever  there  was  an  opportunity, 
"just  to  get  his  hand  in." 

"  Humph !"  said  the  old  man,  looking  up 
from  the  complicated  mass  of  wheels  and 
springs  which  he  was  endeavoring  to  get 
into  running  order ;  "  another  youngster  to 
train  !  They  are  harder  to  put  in  gear  than 
a  first-class  engine.  But,"  giving  Wat  the 
benefit  of  a  searching  pair  of  eyes,  "you 
look  another  sort  of  chap  from  Master  Rattle- 
pate  yonder.  Did  you  ever  try  your  hand, 
at  such  work  as  this  ?" 

"Wat  modestly  replied  that  he  had  con- 
structed two  or  three  little  wooden  machines 
in  his  younger  days,  but  had  never  wrought 
in  iron,  nor  even  seen  such  a  specimen  of 
beautiful  workmanship  as  that  displayed 
before  him. 

Old  Regis  seemed  pleased  with  the  lad's 
appreciation  of  his  skill.  He  stepped  back- 
ward to  look  at  the  effect  of  his  work,  then 
bent  to  tighten  a  screw  or  rub  with  oil 
and  chamois-leather  some  part  of  the  ma- 


164 


WAT  ADAMS. 


chine  that  still  had  too  much  friction  to 
move  along  smoothly  in  its  appointed  groove. 
Finally,  he  called  two  or  three  of  the  work- 
men and  had  the  completed  model  carried  to 
the  engine-room,  where  it  was  to  be  examined 
by  the  overseer. 

Then  he  patiently  set  himself  to  the  task 
of  constructing  another  machine,  choosing 
out  the  various  pieces  he  wanted,  measuring 
them  accurately,  and  laying  them  according 
to  a  plan  marked  out  for  him.  This  was 
Wat's  opportunity,  and  he  dwelt  on  every 
movement  w7ith  a  keen,  watchful  eye.  He 
was  able,  too,  to  help  a  little  after  a  while, 
and  received  some  well-earned  praise  from 
oil  Reginald  for  his  skill  in  handling  the 
tools  and  his  readiness  to  spring  when  he 
was  wanted,  and  not  before. 

At  the  close  of  his  first  day  in  the  shop 
Wat  walked  home  with  his  friend  Ray,  tired 
and  yet  happy,  for  he  had  taken  his  first 
lesson  as  a  machinist  and  fairly  begun  life 
for  himself. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


HABIT  IS  THE  SECOND  NATURE. 

AT'S  next  movement  was  to  collect  all 
his  little  possessions  about  him  and 
avail  himself  permanently  of  Ray 
Colton's  invitation  to  share  his  lodg- 
ings. The  lodgings  were  in  a  quiet  part  of 
the  city,  healthy  and  free  from  the  offensive 
odors  and  sights  that  often  make  a  residence 
in  the  poorer  parts  of  a  city  unbearable  to 
one  who  has  been  used  to  the  fresh  air  and 
green  fields  of  the  country. 

He  liked  Ray,  too.  There  was  a  frankness 
and  friendliness  about  him  that  was  very 
attractive,  and  a  flow  of  spirits  and  quiet 
humor  irresistible  to  one  who  was  of  a  calm 
and  reserved  disposition,  and  in  general 
little  moved  by  sudden  impulses.  He  had 
felt  himself  drawn  to  Ray  from  the  very 

165 


166 


WAT  ADAMS, 


first,  and  ardently  wished  that  they  might 
be  united  by  a  still  closer  tie  than  the  com- 
mon brotherhood  of  humanity.  He  thought 
that,  like  the  amiable  young  man  in  the 
Scriptures  whom  Jesus  loved,  his  friend 
lacked  but  one  thing,  and  that  was  to  be  a 
disciple  of  Christ. 

Wat's  box  had  been  sent  to  him  from 
Holly,  and  he  was  busy  the  same  evening 
arranging  his  books  and  clothes  when  Ray 
came  in,  having  been  detained  longer  than 
usual  about  some  errands.  His  hands  were 
filled  with  small  parcels,  which  he  proceeded 
to  untie  hastily,  breaking  the  strings  of  some 
and  throwing  paper  and  twine  in  a  heap  on 
the  floor.  Without  speaking  Wat  stooped  and 
gathered  up  the  wrappings,  picked  the  knots 
out  of  the  cord  and  wound  it  up  into  a  tight 
little  ball,  then  deposited  both  carefully  in 
a  drawer  of  the  table. 

"  What  did  you  do  that  for  ?"  asked  Eay, 
opening  his  bright  hazel  eyes  a  little  wider 
than  usual. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


167 


"It's  a  habit  of  mine/'  said  Wat,  smiling. 
" ■  Habit  is  second  nature/  you  know.  I 
used  to  get  so  many  lectures  from  my  old 
grandmother  on  the  subject  of  wasting  little 
things  that  I  have  learned  to  be  careful. 
We  never  know  how  soon  we  may  want." 

" 6  Waste  not,  want  not ;'  is  not  that  one 
of  your  wise  sayings?"  laughed  Ray  as  he 
threw  himself  carelessly  into  a  chair. 

"  There  is  such  a  proverb,"  answered  his 
friend  ;  "  and  another  has  just  now  come  into 
my  head  :  6  Keep  a  thing  seven  years,  and 
you  will  find  use  for  it.'  But  I  can  scarcely 
think  it  will  be  necessary  to  lay  away  your 
wrappings  for  that  length  of  time,  for  it  was 
only  last  night  I  heard  you  wishing  you  had 
a  piece  of  paper  and  a  string,  and  declaring 
there  was  never  any  on  hand  when  you 
wanted  them." 

"  Well,  I  shall  have  a  plenty  for  the  next 
time,  it  seems,"  said  Ray,  in  perfect  good 
humor,  as  he  produced  a  quantity  of  cigars 
and  prepared  one  for  smoking. 


168 


WAT  ADAMS, 


"  Take  one/'  he  added,  pushing  the  parcel 
toward  his  companion. 

"  I  never  smoke/'  said  Wat,  decidedly,  and 
with  a  slight  gesture  of  repugnance. 

"  What  are  your  objections  ?" 

"  I  might  say  that  I  do  not  like  the  smell 
nor  taste  of  tobacco ;  it  is  indeed  extremely 
disagreeable  to  me.  But  besides,  I  object  to 
its  use  on  principle.  It  is  a  filthy  habit,  as 
the  floors  of  our  street  conveyances  and 
public  buildings  bear  witness.  It  must  be 
an  unwholesome  one,  for  tobacco  is  a  deadly 
poison  in  its  concentrated  state,  and  even  in 
the  forms  in  which  it  is  used,  it  weakens  the 
nerves  and  impairs  the  digestion.  Such, 
I  have  read,  is  the  opinion  of  some  of  the 
best  physicians  of  the  day." 

"  And  yet  most  of  them  use  it  in  some 
form  or  other,"  observed  Ray. 

"  That  certainly  weakens  their  argument, 
then,  for  '  example  is  better  than  precept/ 
But  there  is  another  objection  to  tobacco :  it 
is  an  expensive  habit." 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


169 


"  Why,  a  cigar  costs  but  a  trifle,"  said  his 
companion,  lightly. 

"  Just  count  up  how  many  of  these  trifles 
you  consume  in  a  day,  in  a  week,  in  a  month. 
Comes  to  a  pretty  good  sum  in  the  course  of 
a  year,  don't  it  ?  My  old  friend  6  Poor 
Richard  9  says,  6 A  penny  saved  is  twopence 
earned/  and  '  Many  a  little  makes  a  mickle.' 
Now,  how  long  is  it  since  you  began  to  smoke, 
Ray?" 

"  Oh,  ever  since  I  was  a  little  shaver — ten 
years,  anyhow.  You  see  the  men  at  the 
tavern  and  store  in  our  country  place  all 
used  pipes  or  cigars,  and  we  little  chaps 
thought  we  couldn't  be  manly  if  we  didn't 
smoke.  At  first  we  rolled  up  leaves  and 
aped  the  loungers,  and  were  laughed  at  for 
our  monkey  tricks.  But  by  and  by  we  tried 
the  real  stuff,  and  after  the  first  fit  of  deadly 
nausea  and  heart-sickness  was  over  we  liked 
it,  and  after  a  while  we  felt  as  if  we  couldn't 
do  without  it." 

"  Just  like  the  drunkard  with  his  drams. 


170 


WAT  ADAMS, 


And  this  is  my  fourth  objection  to  tobacco : 
it  brings  on  a  dryness  of  the  mouth  and  a 
craving  for  liquor  of  some  sort,  and  often — 
I  don't  say  in  every  instance,  mind  you — there 
is  a  desire  for  intoxicating  drink  which  is  not 
always  resisted." 

"  Well,  you  have  made  out  a  pretty  strong 
case,  that's  a  fact,"  said  Ray ;  "  I  sha'n't  dare 
to  smoke  a  cigar  to-night,  so  that  will  be 
something  saved." 

"  I  wish  I  could  persuade  you  to  give  it 
up  altogether,"  said  Wat,  laying  his  hand  on 
his  friend's  shoulder. 

"  How  can  I,  when  you  say  i  habit  is 
second  nature '  ?" 

"  But  bad  habits  may  be  broken.  Reso- 
lution and  perseverance  can  accomplish  won- 
ders. You  and  I  are  too  young,  Ray,  to  be 
the  slaves  of  ill  habits." 

"Pray,  what  bad  habit  have  you,  Wat?" 
said  his  friend,  still  in  a  bantering  mood. 

"  Oh,  many,  as  you  will  find  out  to  your 
sorrow7  some  day.    One  is  that  I  am  always 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


171 


troubling  everybody  with  repeating  old  prov- 
erbs to  them." 

"  You  don't  trouble  me/'  said  Ray ;  "  and 
now,  see,  I  am  going  to  be  Master  Good-boy 
for  the  rest  of  the  evening.  I  shall  not 
smoke  nor  whistle,  nor  even  stir  if  you  bid 
me  be  quiet." 

Here  the  lively  young  man  assumed  a  gro- 
tesque attitude,  joining  his  hands  together  by 
the  tips  of  the  fingers  and  drawing  his  mobile 
features  into  such  a  ludicrous  expression  of 
extreme  gravity  as  to  make  Wat  laugh 
heartily. 

Wat,  turning  away,  went  on  with  the  ar- 
rangement of  his  books,  which  seemed  to 
give  him  no  little  trouble  to  place  in  proper 
order. 

"  Ray,"  he  said,  after  puzzling  over  them 
a  while,  "  do  you  think  there  would  be  any 
objection  to  my  putting  up  a  shelf  here  be- 
tween the  windows  for  my  books  ?  I  want  to 
have  them  so  that  I  can  lay  my  hand  on  any 
particular  volume  when  I  need  it.    If  I  keep 


172 


WAT  ADAMS, 


them  in  my  trunk,  I  would  have  to  displace 
everything  else  to  find  the  one  I  wanted." 

"  Am  I  permitted  to  speak  ?"  asked  Ray, 
in  a  mocking  tone. 

"  To  be  sure ;  how  ridiculous  you  are, 
Ray  !    Come,  what  do  you  think  of  it  ?" 

"  Could  you  do  it?" 

"  Yes,  if  I  can  get  the  proper  tools.  I 
have  done  such  things  before." 

"  Then  I  see  no  reason  why  you  should 
not  have  one  if  you  choose ;  I  suppose  the 
owner  of  the  house  would  not  object.  But 
it  will  take  time,  you  know.  You  must  buy 
a  board  and  plane  it,  and  make  fixtures  to 
set  it  on.  In  the  mean  time,  I  will  move  my 
books  up  closer  and  let  you  pile  yours  on 
one  end  of  the  mantel-shelf.  How  will  that 
do?" 

Wat  thought  it  would  do  very  well  for  the 
present;  and  with  his  usual  zeal  to  oblige, 
Ray  began  hastily  to  pull  down  his  own 
books  to  make  room  for  his  friend's.  As 
Wat  was  helping  hirn  a  small  volume  fell 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  173 

from  his  hands  to  the  floor.  He  picked  it 
up,  opened  and  read  a  few  words,  then  color- 
ed violently. 

"  This  is  a  bad  book,  Ray,"  he  exclaimed, 
looking  sorrowfully  at  his  companion ;  "  I 
hope  you  are  not  in  the  habit  of  reading 
such  things  ?" 

To  do  him  justice,  Ray's  expressive  coun- 
tenance was  also  suffused  with  a  blush  of 
honest  shame. 

"  I  am  not,  indeed,"  he  answered ;  and  his 
frank,  open  look  convinced  Wat  at  once  that 
his  friend  was  speaking  the  truth.  "A 
strange  man  gave  it  to  me  the  other  day  in 
the  street.  He  seemed  to  shrink  from  being 
noticed,  I  thought,  and  soon  after  slunk  away 
down  a  by-lane.  I  have  only  read  a  page  or 
two,  but  I  wish  I  had  never  seen  a  line  of 
it." 

"  That  is  the  danger  of  such  books,"  re- 
marked Wat,  letting  go  his  hold  of  the 
volume  as  if  the  very  touch  stung  him ; 
"the  impure  thought,  the  unchaste  word, 


174 


WAT  ADAMS, 


leave  a  scar  that  can  never  be  effaced.  Noth- 
ing but  the  blood  of  Christ  can  cleanse  us 
from  such  stains.  I  met  with  a  story  the 
other  day  of  a  gentleman  who  hired  a  mason 
to  make  some  repairs  in  his  private  room. 
A  sort  of  wash  was  used  which  left  no  marks 
on  anything  until  it  dried.  The  next  day 
the  gentleman  observed  white  stains  like  the 
impression  of  fingers  on  the  drawers  of  his 
desk,  traced  them  inside  to  his  money-bag 
and  pocket-book,  and  so  discovered  the  dis- 
honesty of  his  workman.  The  moral  was 
that  our  sins  may  be  hidden  from  all  eyes, 
but  the  marks  remain  and  the  light  of  eter- 
nity will  bring  them  to  notice." 

Ray  was  sober  enough  now. 

"What  shall  I  do  with  it?"  he  asked, 
looking  at  Wat  helplessly. 

"  Let  us  burn  it,"  said  his  companion, 
energetically ;  and  forthwith  the  hateful 
thing  was  torn  into  strips,  twisted  and  held 
in  the  flame  of  the  lamp,  every  fragment 
being  reduced  to  cinders  on  their  little 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  175 

hearth  before  they  could  satisfy  themselves 
that  they  were  free  from  the  contamination 
of  its  presence. 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  you  didn't  approve 
of  some  of  the  rest  of  my  books ;  I  don't 
believe  they  are  a  bit  like  yours,"  observed 
Ray  as  they  stood  leaning  on  the  mantel- 
shelf. 

"  May  I  look  at  them  ?;'  said  Wat,  gently. 

Ray  assented,  and  Wat  opened  one  and 
another  curiously.  They  were  few  in  number, 
for  Ray  was  no  great  reader — one  or  two 
volumes  of  the  adventures  of  noted  pirates 
and  highwaymen,  several  collections  of  pop- 
ular songs  and  ballads ;  the  rest  were  play- 
books. 

"  Do  you  go  much  to  the  theatre  ?"  asked 
Wat  as  he  turned  over  the  leaves  of  the 
latter. 

"Yes;  almost  every  week.  What  is  a 
fellow  to  do  with  his  evenings  if  he  don't 
find  some  place  of  amusement  ?  I  have  been 
intending  to  ask  you  to  go  with  me  ever 


176 


WAT  ADAMS, 


since  you  came,  but  something  always 
seemed  to  come  up  instead.  Are  you  en- 
gaged for  to-morrow  night  ?" 

"  To-morrow  night  and  every  night.  In 
short,  Ray,  I  cannot  go  with  you  to  the 
theatre ;  I  promised  I  would  not." 

"  Your  mother,  I  suppose  ?  All  the  good 
boys  in  stories  promise  their  mothers  they 
will  not  go  to  the  theatre." 

"My  mother  is  in  heaven,"  said  Wat, 
solemnly,  "  but  I  knowr  what  she  would  like 
me  to  do  if  she  were  here  now  and  could 
listen  to  our  talk.  It  was  my  sister  I  pledged 
myself  to.  Besides,  Ray,  I  have  a  still  better 
rule  to  go  by.  It  is  this :  6  Whatsoever  ye  do 
in  word  or  in  deed,  do  all  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus.' " 

Ray  looked  uneasy,  and  to  turn  the  conver- 
sation began  to  examine  some  of  his  com- 
panion's books. 

"  What  is  this,"  he  asked,  "  with  so  many 
lines  and  curves,  besides  A's  and  B's  and  X's 
without  number  ?" 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


177 


"  That  ?  Oh,  that's  Euclid.  Eegis  told  me 
to-day,  I  ought  to  learn  mathematics  to  be  a 
good  machinist,  so  much  depends  on  accuracy 
in  measurement.  So  I  bought  this  as  I  came 
along.  I  think,  by  using  system  in  the 
management  of  my  time,  that  I  can  do  Mr. 
Thatcher's  writing  and  study  some  besides." 

"  What!  every  night?"  said  Ray,  in  aston- 
ishment; "you'll  be  moped  to  death." 

"  Oh  no,  I  shall  not.  It  is  quite  a  brisk 
walk  from  the  shop  to  our  lodgings  here, 
and  I  shall  take  one  evening  for  church. 
Besides,  Mr.  Thatcher  gave  me  a  ticket  to  a 
course  of  scientific  lectures  which  are  given 
once  a  week,  so  that  will  leave  me  only  four 
nights  for  study.  I  must  therefore  rise  very 
early  if  I  want  to  accomplish  anything." 

"  I  like  to  be  up  betimes  too,"  said  Ray, 
"  only  on  Sunday  mornings  I  indulge  myself 
with  a  little  longer  nap,  because  I  don't  know 
what  to  do  with  the  day,  anyhow." 

"  What  do  you  do  with  it,  Ray  ?" 

"  Oh,  go  walking  or  riding  in  the  coun- 
12 


178 


WAT  ADAMS, 


try.  Then  sometimes  I  take  a  sail  down  the 
river." 

"  Do  you  never  go  to  church  ?" 

"  I  go  to  the  cathedral  now  and  then  to 
hear  the  music.  It's  splendid,  the  best  in 
the  city/' 

"  Do  you  never  hear  a  sermon  ?" 

"  I  hear  yours ;  you're  as  good  a  preacher 
as  I  know  of/'  returned  Ray,  who  had  by 
this  time  thrown  off  his  seriousness  and  re- 
sumed his  teasing  mood. 

Wat  crossed  the  room  and  came  back  with 
a  little  package  which  he  took  from  the 
pocket  of  his  working-jacket. 

"  Ray,"  he  said  as  he  untied  it,  "  I  bought 
another  book  this  evening.  It  is  for  you. 
You  said  you  had  no  Bible,  and  I  want  you 
to  accept  this  one  from  me  as  a  present," 

His  companion  took  it  silently,  sat  down 
at  the  table  and  examined  the  volume  closely, 
running  his  hand  over  the  smooth,  cream- 
tinted  paper  inside  and  scanning  the  gilded 
lettering  on  the  back. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


179 


"  It's  very  pretty,"  he  said  at  last ;  "  what 
am  I  to  do  with  it  ?" 

"  Read  it,  I  hope.  You  will  promise  me, 
won't  you,  Ray,  to  read  a  few  verses  every 
night?" 

"Promises  are  often  broken,  so  I  sha'n't 
make  any.  I  might  forget  or  something 
happen  to  prevent  me.  But  I'll  read  a 
chapter  now  if  you  will  tell  me  where." 

Wat  turned  to  the  fifteenth  of  Luke  and 
gave  the  book  back  to  his  friend.  Then,  not 
to  seem  to  watch  him,  he  brought  out  his 
writing  materials  and  began  the  copying 
that  Mr.  Thatcher  had  entrusted  him  with. 

A  few  minutes  only  had  passed  in  this 
way  when  Ray  suddenly  broke  forth  with 
the  remark : 

"  How  like  you  are,  Wat,  to  my  dear  little 
friend  Paul ! — the  same  sweet  look  about 
the  mouth,  the  same  mingling  of  fire  and 
gentleness  in  the  eyes.  I  thought  there  was 
a  likeness  when  I  first  saw  you." 

Wat  looked  up  and  smiled,  then  dropped 


180 


WAT  ADAMS, 


his  eyes  again  on  his  papers.  Once  more 
Ray  interrupted  him : 

"  I  say,  Wat,  is  that  sister  you  were  talk- 
ing about  just  now  as  handsome  as  you  are  ?" 

" '  Handsome  is  that  handsome  does,'  " 
said  Wat,  laughing,  yet  a  little  provoked  be- 
sides. "  One  thing  I  know — she  is  a  dear, 
good  sister,  and  I  am  very  proud  of  her." 

"  I  suppose  she  wouldn't  speak  to  such  a 
fellow  as  I  am?"  went  on  the  incorrigible 
Ray;  "she  would  disdain  me  with  my  hard 
hands,  grimy  face  and  leather  apron  at  my 
work-bench." 

"  I  don't  think  she  would  do  any  such 
thing,  especially  as  her  brother  is  obliged  to 
present  the  same  appearance  sometimes,"  re- 
sponded Wat.  "  But  oh,  Ray,  will  you  never 
be  serious  and  settle  down  to  some  employ- 
ment for  the  evening  ?" 

"I  annoy  you,  I  suppose?  Well,  you 
looked  so  sober  that  I  couldn't  resist  the 
temptation  of  making  you  laugh.  But  it's 
dreadful  dull  here.    If  you  won't  talk,  and 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  181 

I  can't  smoke  or  sing,  I'll  take  myself  off 
somewhere  else." 

Which  he  did  soon  after  with  a  half- 
offended  air  that  troubled  his  room-mate  not 
a  little.  He  did  not  want  Ray  to  be  vexed 
with  him ;  he  would  like  to  oblige  him  if  he 
knew  how.  He  remembered  that  Ray  had 
the  best  right  to  the  room,  and  had  been 
kind  enough  to  share  it  with  him  when  he 
was  in  sore  need  of  a  shelter.  But  if  Ray 
spent  his  evenings  in  idle,  profitless  talk  like 
that  which  had  engaged  them  the  last  few 
minutes,  how  was  he  to  fulfill  his  obligations 
to  Mr.  Thatcher  or  carry  out  his  plans  for 
study  ? 

Wat  thought  perhaps  it  would  have  been 
better  if  he  had  taken  a  room  to  himself,  as 
then  he  would  interfere  with  no  one's 
pleasure,  but  he  had  a  dislike  to  living  en- 
tirely alone ;  it  might  make  him  selfish,  and 
in  time  a  decided  misanthrope.  One  ought 
to  have  somebody  to  love.    His  Bible  prov- 


182 


WAT  ADAMS. 


erbs  told  him :  "  A  man,  to  have  friends, 
must  show  himself  friendly/' 

Wat  mused  long  and  deeply  that  night  as 
to  the  best  mode  of  dealing  with  Ray,  and 
prayed  to  God  to  guide  him  and  help  him 
to  influence  his  room-mate  for  good. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


INDUSTRY  AND  FRUGALITY  LEAD  TO  SUCCESS. 

HEN  Wat  had  been  six  months  at  the 
machine-shop,  Mr.  Hill  raised  his 
wages  and  made  them  equal  to  Ray 
Colton's.  Old  Reginald  had  found 
him  such  a  capable  and  willing  assistant 
that  he  strongly  recommended  their  em- 
ployer to  secure  the  young  man's  services  ; 
for  as  more  and  better  machinery  was  want- 
ed, other  establishments  of  the  same  kind 
were  springing  up  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
so  good  a  workman  would  not  be  long  with- 
out finding  employment. 

Mr.  Hill  did  not  intend  to  part  with  Wat, 
but  at  the  same  time  he  wished  to  keep  him 
in  ignorance  of  his  real  value  and  to  make 
the  most  of  him.  So  he  merely  paid  him  a 
higher  sum  than  he  had  agreed  on  when  he 

183 


184 


WAT  ADAMS, 


took  him  into  the  shop,  and  thought  himself 
lucky  in  making  so  good  a  bargain. 

Wat  was  quite  satisfied  with  his  wages. 
His  wants  were  few,  and  to  one  of  his  fru- 
gal and  temperate  habits  the  weekly  sum  of 
money  he  received  was  ample.  He  had  de- 
termined from  his  first  setting  out  in  life  to 
follow  the  example  of  the  great  man  whose 
name  he  bore  and  be  careful  about  indulging 
his  appetite.  So  while  Ray,  who  was  fond 
of  good  eating  and  seldom  denied  himself 
anything  he  fancied,  supped  luxuriously, 
Wat  contented  himself  with  a  slice  or  two 
of  bread  and  butter,  a  glass  of  milk  and  a 
little  fruit,  which  he  considered  wholesome 
as  well  as  palatable.  For  dinner  he  allowed 
himself  meat,  and  always  as  many  vegetables 
as  could  be  readily  prepared  at  the  cook-shop 
where  they  filled  their  dinner-cans  as  they 
went  to  work  in  the  morning. 

Wat  had  made  this  arrangement  with  his 
friend  Ray  at  the  very  beginning  of  their 
partnership  in  lodgings,  foreseeing,  from  the 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


185 


very  expensive  style  in  which  his  companion 
lived,  that  he  should  be  drawn  into  an  un- 
necessary outlay  of  money  if  he  allowed 
Ray  to  be  the  purveyor  for  both.  So,  while 
they  used  the  same  table  and  observed  the 
same  hours  for  taking  their  meals,  each 
bought  his  own  provisions,  except  at  certain 
times  when  Ray  insisted  on  sharing  some 
particular  dainty  with  Wat,  which  courtesy 
the  latter  returned  on  another  occasion  by 
picking  out  the  juiciest  peach  or  ripest  apple 
as  a  present  for  Ray. 

Wat  was  getting  along  finely  with  his  room- 
mate now.  They  were  becoming  better  ac- 
quainted with  each  other's  peculiarities,  and 
willing  to  make  concessions  on  each  side. 
Wat  had  not  forgotten  Mr.  Hill's  exhorta- 
tion to  remember  that  "  sixty  minutes  make 
an  hour,"  and  he  was  conscientious  in  im- 
proving his  time  to  the  utmost.  But  he  had 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  a  fair  portion 
of  the  evening  given  to  harmless  recreation 
and  friendly  conversation  with  his  companion 


186 


WAT  ADAMS, 


would  be  a  gain  rather  than  a  loss  to  both. 
Finding  that  Ray  was  an  expert  chess-player, 
he  put  himself  under  his  tuition,  and  learned 
the  game  sufficiently  to  be  a  tolerable  antag- 
onist. % 

m 

Ray  on  his  part  was  willing,  when  their 
amusement  was  over,  to  take  up  one  of  Wat's 
books  and  employ  himself  in  a  more  useful 
course  of  reading  than  he  had  hitherto  been 
accustomed  to.  He  seldom  went  abroad  in 
the  evening  now,  and  when  he  showed  an 
inclination  to  do  so  was  sometimes  persuaded 
by  Wat  to  accompany  him  to  a  lecture,  or 
they  would  make  a  visit  to  the  library  to 
look  at  the  books  and  engravings. 

To  make  up  for  the  time  thus  devoted  to 
Ray,  Wat  was  obliged  to  sit  up  later  than 
his  friend  and  rise  in  the  morning  before 
daybreak.  It  had  become  a  noted  fact  in 
the  neighborhood  that  the  glimmer  of  the 
young  mechanic's  lamp  was  sure  to  be  seen 
late  and  early  by  those  who  frequented  the 
streets  at  such  untimely  hours. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  187 

w 

Since  his  wages  had  been  raised  at  the 
shop,  he  could  have  got  along  without  the 
copying  for  Mr.  Thatcher.  But  that  gentle- 
man seemed  so  well  pleased  with  his  accuracy 
and  despatch,  and  paid  him  so  liberally  for 
his  work,  that  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to 
continue  it  He  had  been  enabled  by  his 
earnings  in  this  way  to  make  several  remit- 
tances to  Holly,  but  lately  Keziah  had  writ- 
ten to  beg  that  he  would  do  so  no  longer,  as 
her  business  had  become  so  profitable  that 
his  aid  was  not  necessary.  After  this  Wat 
indulged  himself  in  the  purchase  of  several 
valuable  books  which  were  indispensable  in 
the  course  of  study  he  had  marked  out,  and 
by  Mr.  Thatcher's  advice  placed  the  surplus 
of  his  wages  in  the  savings  bank. 

This  good  merchant  was  a  true  friend  to 
Wat.  He  was  not  content  with  furthering 
his  worldly  interests,  but  took  pains  to  see 
that  he  attended  to  his  religious  duties.  He 
invited  the  young  mechanic  to  the  church  to 
which  he  himself  belonged,  and  whenever  he 


188 


WAT  ADAMS, 


encountered  him  tliere  or  at  the  weekly 
prayer-meeting  gave  him  a  warm  greeting 
and  a  friendly  shake  of  the  hand. 

Mr.  Thatcher,  too,  had  a  Bible  class  of 
young  men,  and  Wat,  who  had  always  been 
used  to  attending  the  Sunday-school,  and  did 
not  think  himself  too  far  advanced  in  years 
or  attainments  for  instruction,  took  pleasure 
in  going  to  it. 

How  well  it  would  be  if  all  professors  of 
religion  would  act  thus,  especially  those  who 
employ  and  have  the  oversight  of  young 
men  and  women  in  their  different  trades  and 
professions !  Many  of  them  are  strangers  in 
the  great  cities,  far  from  home  and  friends 
and  exposed  to  temptation.  Without  the 
guiding  hand,  the  watchful  eye,  the  loving, 
sympathizing  word,  they  may  be  lost  for  ever 
to  themselves  and  society.  Alas !  how  often 
has  the  bitter  cry  been  raised  by  some  in  the 
depths  of  despair,  "No  man  cared  for  my 
soul "! 

But  besides  Mr.  Thatcher  and  the  Bible 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


189 


class,  Wat  was  very  happy  in  finding  a 
Christian  friend  in  old  Regis.  It  came  out 
quite  by  accident  one  day,  when  they  had 
left  off  work  and  were  enjoying  their  dinner 
together.  And  "as  iron  sharpeneth  iron," 
so  in  this  instance  did  the  older  and  more 
experienced  Christian  give  countenance  and 
support  to  the  younger. 

It  was  very  sweet,  this  companionship  in 
the  things  of  Christ  and  his  kingdom. 
There  was  a  quaintness  and  simplicity  in  the 
observations  made  by  the  old  man  as  to  the 
analogy  of  their  every-day  employments  with 
the  truths  of  the  Bible  that  were  new  to 
Wat  and  helped  to  fix  them  in  his  mind. 
Thus,  if  they  were  obliged  to  deal  hard 
blows  on  their  bars  of  heated  iron,  old  Regis 
would  remark  on  the  insensibility  and  stub- 
bornness of  the  human  heart,  and  how  often 
in  the  very  furnace  of  affliction  and  by  fiery 
trials  the  Lord  tries  his  people  until  they 
are  refined  as  silver. 

"  It  takes  stroke  upon  stroke  many's  the 


190 


WAT  ADAMS, 


time,"  said  the  old  workman ;  "  but  the 
Lord  knows  best.  It  isn't  for  us  short- 
sighted mortals  to  know  just  why  we  must 
suffer  these  things,  but  we  shall  know  here- 
after. There  isn't  a  bit  of  brass  or  steel  in 
yon  beautiful  engine  but  had  to  be  melted 
and  beaten  into  shape  before  it  was  fit  for 
use ;  but  do  ye  suppose — if  so  be  it  had  feel- 
ings like  we  have — it  would  regret  the  hard 
usage  it  had  passed  through,  now  that  it  is 
fashioned,  as  one  may  say,  into  a  vessel  of 
honor?  Ay,  lad,  and  the  very  stones  of 
Solomon's  temple  were  hewn  into  shape  be- 
fore they  were  ready  for  the  building  ;  how 
much  more  the  living  stones  of  God's  spirit- 
ual temple  !" 

Wat  learned  by  subsequent  conversation 
with  his  old  friend  that  he  spoke  from  pain- 
ful experience,  having  had  his  full  share  of 
affliction,  first  in  the  death  of  his  wife  and 
children  by  a  contagious  disease,  and  after- 
ward by  a  fire  that  in  one  night  swept  away 
all  his  earthly  possessions. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


191 


"  I  was  hard  and  rebellious  enough,  before 
that,  lad,"  said  old  Regis,  "  but  I  was  ten 
times  harder  and  more  rebellious  when  God 
added  stroke  upon  stroke  and  left  me,  like 
Job,  stripped  of  all  I  held  dear  in  this  world. 
But  it  pleased  God  at  last  to  open  my  blind 
eyes  and  melt  down  my  stubborn  heart,  and 
now  I  can  see  that  the  Lord  does  not  will- 
ingly afflict  nor  grieve  the  children  of  men  ; 
but  whom  he  loveth  he  chasteneth,  and 
scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth." 

It  was  a  lovely  Sabbath  afternoon  in  the 
close  of  summer  when  this  conversation  took 
place.  Regis  had  asked  his  young  friend  to 
go  with  him  to  a  neat  little  church  built  on 
the  extreme  outskirts  of  the  city,  where  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  worshiping.  It  was 
almost  surrounded  by  trees,  with  a  prospect 
of  wood-crowned  hills  in  the  distance,  and 
quite  removed  from  the  noise  and  bustle  of 
crowded  streets. 

Wat  enjoyed  the  calm  and  quiet  very 
much.    It  reminded  him  of  the  little  village 


192 


WAT  ADAMS, 


church  at  Holly.  The  simple  style  of  sing- 
ing, the  fervent,  heart-breathed  prayers,  the 
clear,  impressive  exposition  of  God's  word 
and  the  devout  and  attentive  faces  of 
the  humble  listeners  gave  him  more  of  a 
home-feeling  than  he  had  experienced  any- 
where else,  and  he  determined,  if  the  old 
Englishman  were  willing,  that  he  would 
often  be  his  companion. 

But  it  was  their  last  walk  to  the  house  of 
God  in  company.  The  next  morning,  to  the 
surprise  of  all,  old  Reginald  was  not  in  his 
usual  place.  He  was  so  punctual  and  at- 
tentive to  his  duties  that  he  was  almost 
considered  one  of  the  fixtures  of  the  es- 
tablishment, and  his  failure  to  be  at  his  post 
excited  no  little  remark  from  the  workmen. 
Then  it  was  whispered  about  that  something 
more  than  common  had  happened,  and  soon 
Mr.  Hill  came  among  them  and  with  a  se- 
rious face  told  them  that  Regis  had  been 
found  dead  in  his  bed  that  morning,  and 
that  the  coroner's  inquest  had  rendered  the 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


193 


solemn  verdict,  "Died  by  the  visitation  of 
God." 

It  was  indeed  true.  God  had  visited  and 
taken  him  to  himself  in  the  silent  hours  of 
the  night,  and  now  it  was  all  clear  as  the 
noonday  to  him  about  the  mysteries  of  his 
providence  and  the  wonders  of  his  grace. 

Wat  missed  his  old  fellowr-workman  very 
much.  And  he  regretted  him  the  more 
when  he  found  that  by  Mr.  Hill's  directions 
he  was  to  take  a  place  in  the  engine-room 
and  be  under  instructions  from  Seth  Watkins, 
although  he  knew  that  Seth  was  the  best 
mechanic  in  the  shop,  and  their  employer 
paid  him  a  compliment  in  promoting  him  to 
a  superior  post,  while  many  older  hands  were 
passed  by  as  incompetent. 

But  poor  Seth  Watkins  was  afflicted  with 
a  very  crabbed,  ill-grained  temper,  which  his 
infirmity  in  hearing  did  not  tend  to  sweeten. 
Besides,  Wat  had  often  heard  him  use  very 
profane  and  intemperate  language  in  the 
shop,  and  he  was  right  in  concluding  that 

13 


194 


WAT  ADAMS. 


he  would  make  but  a  poor  companion  after 
good  old  Regis. 

" 6  Yet  what  can't  be  cured  must  be  en- 
dured/ "  he  said  to  himself  as  he  gathered 
up  his  tools  from  his  old  work-bench  and 
carried  them  into  the  engine-room.  Subse- 
quent events  proved  this  change  to  be  the 
best  thing  that  could  have  happened  to  him, 
and  led  to  the  great  success  of  his  life. 


In  the  Machine  Shop. 


Page  194. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


HAMMERING  IN  AND  HAMMERING  OUT. 

HAT  are  you  driving  at  now  ?"  said 
Ray  Colton  to  his  friend  as  tliey 
sat  together   one  winter's  evening, 
each   busy  with   his   own  peculiar 
employment. 

Wat  looked  up  with  a  preoccupied  air 
from  the  paper  on  which  he  wTas  tracing  lines 
and  figures,  but  seemed  still  too  much  ab- 
sorbed to  answer  his  room-mate's  question. 

"Because  I  have  been  watching  you  for 
the  last  half  hour,  and  I  don't  see  that  you 
are  making  the  least  progress  with  that  dia- 
gram, as  you  call  it.  Besides,  you  have  been 
poring  over  the  same  one  every  night  this 
week.  I've  quite  learned  it  by  heart,  and 
know  all  the  marks  and  corners  about  it." 
"  Angles,  you  mean,"  said  Wat,  smiling, 

195 


196 


WAT  ADAMS, 


and  at  the  same  time  arousing  himself  to  pay 
attention  to  what  his  companion  was  saying, 
"  but  I  don't  think  I  shall  have  to  study  it 
much  longer.  I  believe  I  have  the  whole  idea 
planned  out  now,  and  can  go  ahead  with  it." 

"  What  is  it  you  are  contriving,  if  one  may 
ask?" 

"  Something  that  will  set  you  and  me  up 
in  business  for  ourselves,  Ray,  if  I  can  get  a 
patent  for  my  invention.  Seth  Watkins  says 
it  is  just  the  thing  that  is  wanted,  and  he 
thinks  it  will  soon  be  considered  indispen- 
sable in  the  works." 

Here  the  young  machinist  began  to  explain 
to  Ray  such  parts  of  the  drawing  before 
them  as  he  could  readily  comprehend,  and 
enlarged  with  much  enthusiasm  on  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  derived  from  his  new-fashion- 
ed gauge  in  the  building  of  steam-engines. 

"  Seth  has  been  grumbling  over  this  diffi- 
culty ever  since  I  have  been  with  him,"  went 
on  the  young  inventor,  "  and  says  he  would 
give  a  thousand  dollars,  if  he  had  it,  to  see 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


197 


the  defect  remedied.  I  thought  over  the 
matter  many  an  hour  when  you  were  in  bed 
and  asleep,  Ray,  and  have  worked  in  the 
shop  every  leisure  moment  I  had  to  make 
my  little  model  complete." 

"  Was  that  what  you  were  doing  while  the 
rest  of  us  were  lounging  about  and  talking  ? 
I  heard  your  hammer  and  file  going,  and 
thought  you  were  over-industrious,  and  a 
little  foolish,  maybe,  to  be  working  after 
hours  for  Mr.  Hill,  who  never  pays  us  a  cent 
for  extra  time,  you  know." 

"  I  am  aware  of  that,  but  you  see  I  was 
working  for  myself  and  you,  Ray,"  said 
Wat,  with  an  affectionate  look  at  his  friend. 

"Why  do  you  say  that?"  asked  Ray,  a 
little  uneasily ;  "  this  is  the  second  time  you 
have  promised  me  a  share  in  your  good 
fortune,  though  I  have  no  right  nor  claim 
upon  you." 

"  Have  you  not,  when  you  were  the  first 
one  here  who  took  an  interest  in  me,  and 
gave  me  a  home  just  when  I  was  sorely  in 


198 


WAT  ADAMS, 


need  of  one?  I  hope  I  shall  never  be  so 
ungrateful  as  to  forget  your  kindness  in 
taking  up  with  such  a  queer  unsocial  fel- 
low as  I  am." 

"  Oh,  nonsense  !  that  won't  do,  you  know/' 
said  Ray,  laughing ;  "  you  must  acknowledge 
that  I  have  the  best  right  to  be  grateful. 
What  a  poor  giddy  scamp  I  was  when  we 
first  became  acquainted,  Wat,  just  like  a 
straw  drifting  down  the  stream  to  ruin,  and 
twisted  about  this  way  and  that  by  every 
wind  that  blew!  I  owe  it  to  you  and  your 
friendly  counsels  and  example  that  I  am 
not  the  wreck  I  was  in  danger  of  becom- 
ing, having  neither  guide  nor  compass  to 
direct  me." 

"  But  now  you  have  both,"  replied  his 
friend,  w7ith  a  meaning  look  at  the  Bible  that 
lay  close  to  his  companion's  elbow.  "  6  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  same  yesterday  and  to-day  and 
for  ever.'  He  is  our  heavenly  Pilot,  and  will 
steer  us  safe  not  only  through  the  storms 
and  hidden  reefs  of  life's  tempestuous  sea, 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  199 


but  guide  us  to  a  haven  of  eternal  rest  and 
peace/' 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  conversa- 
tion that  Ray  Colton  and  Wat  Adams  were 
now,  indeed,  more  than  friends ;  they  were 
brothers  beloved  in  that  tie  which  unites 
believers  together  and  makes  them  one  in 
Christ  Jesus.  Our  narrative,  leaving  minor 
details,  has  advanced  a  few  years  and  taken 
up  its  thread  again  when  our  young  mechanic 
has  attained  his  majority  and  become  a  fin- 
ished workman. 

Ray's  convictions  of  sin  had  been  deep 
and  pungent ;  and  when  aroused  to  see  him- 
self a  guilty  creature  in  the  sight  of  a  pur:> 
and  holy  God,  he  at  first  almost  despaired  of 
mercy  and  could  not  be  persuaded  of  the 
precious  truth  that  Jesus  died  for  just  such 
sinners  as  he.  His  wrarm  and  impulsive 
temperament  caused  these  feelings  to  become 
so  intense  and  violent  that  his  bodily  health 
suffered  and  he  wTas  unable  for  a  time  to 
attend  to  his  usual  employments. 


200 


WAT  ADAMS, 


His  friend,  whose  unwearied  efforts  to 
bring  him  within  the  influence  of  those 
means  of  grace  that,  by  the  right  use  of 
them  and  through  the  blessed  operations  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  are  made  effectual  to  sal- 
vation, tried  in  vain  to  bring  before  his  mind 
those  comforting  promises  and  tender  assu- 
rances that  are  scattered  like  bright  jewels 
through  the  pages  of  the  gospel,  and  seem 
intended  to  meet  every  case  and  silence 
every  doubt. 

"  This  man  receiveth  sinners,"  "  Whoso- 
ever belie veth  on  him  shall  not  perish,  but 
have  eternal  life,"  "  He  is  able  to  save 
unto  the  uttermost  them  that  come  unto  God 
by  him," — these  and  other  inviting  passages 
were  read  again  and  again  in  Ray's  hearing, 
but  seemingly  without  any  effect.  At  last, 
when  in  the  very  depths  of  despair,  light 
broke  in  on  his  darkened  mind,  and  he  was 
enabled  fully  and  unreservedly  to  trust  in 
the  Saviour,  the  Friend  of  sinners. 

Having  never  had  the  advantages  of  a 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


201 


religious  education,  the  young  convert  had 
much  to  learn,  and  it  required  the  prudent 
care  and  more  evenly-balanced  mind  of  his 
friend  Wat  to  restrain  within  proper  bounds 
the  feelings  that  would  otherwise  have  been 
"  zeal  without  knowledge." 

The  example  of  the  two  young  men  began 
to  work  some  changes  among  their  com- 
panions in  the  shop.  But  while  Wat  won 
more  by  his  consistent  conduct  than  by 
wordy  argument,  Ray  was  ready  at  all  times 
to  combat  the  opinions  of  others,  and  fre- 
quently had  to  acknowledge  himself  defeated 
when  he  was,  in  fact,  only  talked  down  because 
he  had  not  measured  the  strength  of  his 
opponent  nor  properly  chosen  the  grounds  of 
his  defence.  Yet  he  was  sometimes  almost 
ready  to  quarrel  with  his  friend  for  his  seem- 
ing lukewarmness. 

"  I  wonder  how  you  can  bear  old  Watkins' 
horrible  profanity,"  he  observed  to  Wat  the 
evening  on  which  they  were  discussing  the 
fetter's  new  project ;  "  it  seems  like  hanging 


202 


WAT  ADAMS, 


over  the  very  brink  of  the  pit  to  be  in  the 
same  room  with  him.  Such  oaths  and  curses 
on  every  trifling  occasion !  I  should  tell 
him  once  for  all  that  I  would  not  work  a 
turn  for  him  while  he  swears  so." 

"  Have  you  noticed  whether  he  uses  such 
language  now  as  much  as  he  formerly  did  ?" 
asked  Wat,  reflectively. 

"  I  cannot  tell.  You  know  I  have  been 
working  in  another  part  of  the  shop  for  a 
w^eek  or  two.    Why  do  }rou  ask  ?" 

"  Because  I  think — I  believe — that  poor 
old  Seth  is  trying  to  break  off  this  vile  and 
offensive  habit.  One  thing  I  am  sure  of — 
that  he  can  hear  sometimes  better  than  we 
suppose." 

"I  thought  so,"  said  Ray,  impatiently. 
"  So  his  deafness  was  assumed  to  listen  to 
what  was  said  about  him  ?  Mean  and  con- 
temptible, isn't  it?" 

"  Don't  misunderstand  me,  Ray,"  said  his 
friend,  calmly ;  "  I  only  meant  that  Seth  can 
hear  some  persons  better  than  others.  You 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  203 

know  I  speak  very  slowly  and  distinctly, 
and  that  kind  of  voice  is  heard  by  deaf  peo- 
ple much  better  than  a  loud,  high  tone. 
There  was,  besides,  a  lull  in  the  machinery 
when  Bill  Jones  and  I  were  talking,  and  we 
were  standing  very  close  to  Watkins.  I  was 
telling  Bill  of  something  I  had  read  about  a 
good  man's  argument  with  a  profane  swearer. 
He  said  that  all  men  worked  for  something, 
but  the  man  who  swears  does  the  devil's  work 
without  receiving  any  wages  for  it.  There  is 
no  profit  in  swearing — nothing  to  be  gained 
by  curses.  And  I  told  him  of  a  person  who 
was  struck  dead  in  the  very  act  of  swearing, 
winding  up  with  those  lines, 

'  You  would  not  swear  upon  a  bed  of  death  ? 
Reflect !  your  Maker  now  might  stop  your  breath/ 

I  happened  to  look  up  just  then  at  Seth 
Watkins.  He  was  gazing  at  us  as  if  he  were 
spellbound,  and  seemed  struck  with  a  new 
idea.  It  was  some  time  before  he  resumed 
work,  and  I  thought  he  looked  pale  and 


204 


WAT  ADAMS, 


bewildered  for  a  long  time  after.  I  have 
noticed  ever  since  that  when  he  is  about  to 
make  use  of  a  profane  expression  he  checks 
himself  and  looks  over  at  me  with  a  peculiar 
expression.  I  hope  and  pray  that  this  ref- 
ormation may  be  genuine." 

"  You  are  right  and  I  am  wrong,  Wat." 
said  Ray.  "  We  are  both  workmen ;  but 
while  I  hammer  out,  you  hammer  in." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?"  said  his 
friend. 

"Have  you  never  noticed  that  there  are 
two  ways  of  driving  a  nail  ?  Giving  furious 
blows  this  side  and  that,  as  I  do,  loosens  it 
and  makes  it  of  no  use.  But  you  go  to  work 
and  give  it  steady  thumps  right  on  the  head, 
and  then  it  stays,  firm  and  sure." 

"Well,"  said  Wat,  laughing,  and  at  the 
same  time  trying  to  change  the  subject,  "I 
shall  hammer  in  and  out  both  now,  for  I  am 
going  to  hammer  away  at  this  new  invention 
of  mine  until  I  make  it  perfect.  It  will  be 
a  proud  day  for  me  when  I  take  out  the 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


205 


patent-right  and  think  I  have  won  it  by  my 
own  exertions." 

"  Don't  be  too  proud,  Wat,"  said  Ray. 

"  Thank  you  for  that,"  replied  his  com- 
panion, after  a  moment's  thoughtful  pause ; 
"  I  believe  I  needed  just  such  a  word  of 
advice  to  set  me  right." 

"  Then  you  are  not  vexed  with  me  ?" 

"  No,  indeed.  '  Faithful  are  the  wounds 
of  a  friend,'  the  wise  man  says,  and  I  know 
that  you  mean  it  for  my  good.  Pride  is 
a  very  insidious  enemy.  He  steals  into  our 
hearts  and  heads  by  some  loophole  that 
we  have  not  been  careful  to  guard  from  sur- 
prise." 

"  But  if  any  one  has  a  right  to  be  proud 
of  his  work,  you  have,  Wat,"  said  Ray,  "  for 
you  have  hammered  out  your  own  road  to 
honor." 

"  Come,  Ray,  don't  blow  hot  and  cold  with 
the  same  breath,"  said  his  friend,  laughing ; 
"  you  first  warn  me  against  pride  and  then 
try  to  feed  my  vanity  by  praising  me.  But 


206 


WAT  ADAMS, 


seriously,  I  do  not  see  why  any  man  should 
be  proud  of  his  talents  or  abilities,  when 
they  are  bestowed  on  him  by  the  great  Giver 
and  are  not  of  his  own  making/' 

"  He  may  be  very  thankful  for  them, 
though.  You  would  not  like  to  exchange 
place  with  Tony  or  Matt,  the  porters,  who 
have  scarcely  more  brains  or  intelligence 
than  the  iron  they  load  on  their  trucks." 

"  No,  I  would  not.  But  they  have  souls 
to  be  saved  as  well  as  you  and  I,  Ray ;  and 
God  often  reveals  himself  to  such  as  are  of 
limited  understanding,  like  little  babes,  and 
chooses  them  for  his  own,  when  he  passes  by 
the  rich  and  mighty  of  the  world.  Did  you 
know  that  these  men  are  both  followers  of 
Christ?  I  did  not  until  I  went  with  Regis 
that  Sunday  afternoon  to  his  little  church  in 
the  suburbs.  The  sacrament  was  admin- 
istered there  that  day,  and  among  the 
communicants  were  our  two  poor  fellow- 
workmen." 

"  You  make  me  ashamed  of  my  thought- 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  207 

less  speech  about  them,"  said  Ray,  ingen- 
uously. "And  now  I  think  we  are  quits, 
for  the  reprover  has  merited  and  received  a 
reproof  in  his  turn.  But  tell  me  what  you 
are  going  to  do  with  Mr.  Hill  about  your 
model?  You  will  surely  keep  it  a  secret 
from  him  ?" 

"  Why  should  I  r 

"  He  is  a  very  selfish  man,  and  has  a  keen 
eye  to  his  own  interests.  I'm  pretty  sure  he 
will  want  to  take  the  advantage  of  you  and 
profit  by  your  invention  himself.  But  I 
don't  think  we  either  of  us  owe  him  any 
gratitude.  Your  wages,  and  mine  too,  are 
very  inferior  to  what  the  workmen  receive 
in  other  machine-shops." 

"You  forget  that  we  have  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  learning  our  trade,  and  that  I  at 
least  was  taken  without  any  certificate  of  good 
character." 

"  As  if  it  wasn't  written  in  your  face !" 
exclaimed  Ray,  a  little  scornfully.  "  Mr.  Hill 
is  a  true  man  of  the  world,  let  me  tell  you 


208 


WAT  ADAMS. 


again.  You  are  not  in  debt  to  him.  He 
knew  that  you  had  ability  and  he  should  lose 
nothing  by  you." 

"  Nor  do  I  intend  that  he  shall/'  said  Wat, 
decidedly.  "  If  he  is  a  man  of  the  world,  I 
am  a  disciple  of  Christ,  whose  maxims  and 
rules  of  conduct  were  not  altogether  of  this 
world.  Whatever  I  do  in  the  matter  I  trust 
I  shall  be  enabled  to  do  aright." 

Which  speech  settled  all  further  discussion 
of  the  subject  between  the  two  friends. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


RIGHT  MAKES  MIGHT. 

'HIS  is  a  much  better  axiom  than  the 
one  which  held  sway  in  the  dark  ages 
tep"  of  the  world  when  every  man's  hand 
was  against  his  fellow.  Then  the 
strong  ruled  over  the  weak,  the  rich  oppressed 
the  poor,  the  sword  and  lance  were  deemed 
the  best  and  most  powerful  arguments,  and 
men  took  for  their  motto,  as  it  suited  their 
own  interests,  "  Might  makes  right." 

But  since  the  pure  and  enlightened  pre- 
cepts of  the  gospel  have  become  so  widely 
diffused,  our  Saviour's  beautiful  rule  is  the 
one  for  us  to  go  by :  "  Whatsoever  ye  would 
that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to 
them."  Unless  this  Golden  Rule  is  practiced 
in  our  daily  life,  its  spirit  carried  out  in  our 

14  209 


210 


WAT  ADAMS, 


dealings  with  our  fellow-men,  we  cannot  hope 
for  true  success. 

As  a  Christian,  Wat  Adams  was  deter- 
mined to  walk  by  this  "  royal  law."  What- 
ever came  of  it,  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
acquaint  his  employer,  Mr.  Hill,  with  his 
invention  and  offer  him  the  advantage  of  it. 

One  or  two  days  more  of  close  application 
after  the  regular  work  was  over  brought  his 
model  into  such  a  finished  state  that  it  was 
ready  for  trial ;  and  notwithstanding  Ray's 
friendly  bit  of  advice,  Wat  could  not  help 
being  highly  elated  when  he  saw  how  well 
it  worked,  and  heard  Watkins'  exclamations 
of  pleasure  at  having  so  great  a  want  in  the 
machinery  supplied. 

With  a  beating  heart  the  young  man 
waited  for  Mr.  Hill  to  enter  the  engine-room. 
It  was  his  usual  hour  for  doing  so,  and  Seth 
had  managed  that  none  but  he  and  Wat 
should  be  present  while  they  tried  the  work- 
ing of  the  new  machine. 

The  beautiful  little  model,  glittering  with 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


211 


polished  brass  and  steel,  was  running  smoothly 
along  on  a  miniature  railroad  that  Wat  had 
contrived  for  its  exhibition.  It  was  perfect, 
with  its  tiny  boiler  and  furnace,  and  the 
young  machinist  glanced  from  it  to  his  em- 
ployer's face  with  something  of  the  same 
feeling  of  complacency  that  had  stirred 
within  him  in  the  old  days  at  Holly  school 
when  he  set  his  little  water-wheel  going,  to 
the  wonder  of  his  companions. 

He  was,  therefore,  not  a  little  disappointed 
and  vexed  when  Mr.  Hill  asked,  with  a  con- 
temptuous look, 

"  What  baby's  plaything  is  that  ?  I  want 
no  such  trash  in  my  shop.  Who  has  been 
spending  his  time,  I  wonder,  in  contriving 
such  a  piece  of  nonsense  ?" 

"Trash!"  exclaimed  old  Watkins,  indig- 
nantly; "let  me  tell  you,  Mr.  Hill,  that 
piece  of  nonsense,  as  you  call  it,  will  put  a 
few  more  thousands  in  your  pocket  if  you 
ain't  too  proud  to  profit  by  it.  Look  at  this, 
and  this,"  shewing  the  works  of  the  little 


212 


WAT  ADAMS, 


machine;  "just  the  very  thing  we've  wanted 
this  long  time." 

Mr.  Hill  looked  composedly  on  while  the 
old  workman  exhibited  all  the  capabilities 
of  the  new  invention  and  showed  what  an 
advantage  it  would  be  in  their  business. 
Then  he  said  coolly,  although  he  well  knew 
that  the  credit  of  it  belonged  to  Wat, 

"  So  you  made  it,  Watkins,  did  you?  I 
thought  at  first  it  was  some  boy's  plaything, 
but  I  ask  your  pardon  if  it  is  yours." 

"  It  is  not  mine,"  said  Old  Seth ;  "  I  wish 
it  was;  I'd  be  proud  of  it,  I  know.  I  shouldn't 
need  to  work  much,  if  I  owned  it.  So,  if  you 
ask  anybody's  pardon,  sir,  it  must  be  Wat 
Adams',  for  the  whole  thing,  from  beginning 
to  end,  is  of  his  contriving." 

Mr.  Hill  turned  and  surveyed  his  young 
workman  from  head  to  foot  with  the  air  of  a 
master : 

"  I  thought  you  engaged  to  do  my  work  ? 
I  pay  you  for  all  your  time,  don't  I  ?" 

"  I  made  this  after  the  regular  hours,  sir. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  213 


I  have  never  neglected  your  work  for  a 
moment." 

"  The  tools  are  mine,  so  are  the  materials 
you  used." 

Seth  Watkins,  though  usually  so  hard  of 
hearing,  had  not  lost  a  word  of  this  conver- 
sation. He  now  thought  it  was  time  to  re- 
sume his  part  in  it. 

"  No,  Mr.  Hill,"  he  exclaimed,  with  spirit  ; 
"  Wat  Adams  has  a  set  of  tools  of  his  own, 
bought,  as  well  as  every  bit  of  metal  he  has 
worked  up  in  this  model,  from  the  scanty 
wages  you  allow  him." 

The  master-mechanic  turned  pale  with 
anger.  He  knew  he  had  taken  an  unfair 
advantage  in  his  dealings  with  his  young 
workman,  but  thought  to  keep  him  in  igno- 
rance of  it.  He  now  changed  his  argument 
for  another : 

"  At  least  you  will  acknowledge  that  you 
acquired  all  you  know  in  my  shop  ?  I  gave 
you  employment  when  you  came  to  me  with- 
out a  recommendation." 


214  WAT  ADAMS, 

"  You  did,  sir ;  and  I  intend  to  show  my 
gratitude  for  past  favors  by  giving  you  the 
first  use  of  my  invention  and  helping  in  the 
application  of  it  to  your  machinery." 

"  So  you  intend  to  apply  for  a  patent  for 
that  thing,  do  you  ?"  asked  Mr.  Hill,  with  a 
contemptuous  twirl  of  his  thumb  toward  the 
little  model,  which  had  now  ceased  to  move 
its  tiny  wheels  and  throw  off  its  thin  column 
of  steam. 

"  I  do,  sir,  if  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to 
put  me  in  the  way  of  going  about  such 
business.  Of  course  I  am  ignorant  to  whom 
and  where  to  apply." 

"  Oh,  of  course !"  said  the  master,  de- 
risively ;  "  and  how  if  I  refuse  to  help 
you?" 

"  Then  I  must  ask  some  one  else,  sir,"  said 
Wat,  soberly,  as  he  proceeded  to  take  his 
model  to  pieces  and  pack  it  away  carefully 
in  a  box. 

Mr.  Hill  moved  to  the  side  of  the  young 
machinist  and  lowered  his  voice,  so  that  Seth 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  215 

Watkins  could  not  possibly  hear  the  propo- 
sition he  was  about  to  make. 

"  There  is  no  use  of  you  getting  a  patent 
for  this/'  he  whispered.  "  Let  the  whole 
affair  be  a  secret  between  us  three,  Adams, 
and  promise  me  not  to  let  any  other  manu- 
facturer have  the  use  of  the  invention.  In 
that  case  your  fortune  will  be  made,  for  I 
shall  double  your  wages  from  this  very  hour, 
or,  perhaps,  in  time  give  you  a  share  in  the 
business.    What  clo  you  say  to  that  ?" 

"  I  cannot  do  it,  Mr.  Hill,"  said  Wat,  very 
gravely ;  "if  I  have  found  out  something 
that  will  be  generally  useful,  it  is  but  right 
that  the  public  should  have  the  benefit  of  it. 
Nor  would  it  be  just  to  myself  to  be  bound 
to  you  by  such  a  promise.  The  increase  of 
wages  you  offer  would  be  but  a  trifle  com- 
pared to  the  profit  I  expect  to  make  by  the 
sale  of  my  invention." 

"  What  will  you  take,  then,  for  the  sole  use 
of  it  ?"  persisted  the  manufacturer. 

"Nothing,  sir,  for  I  want  to  do  what  is 


216 


WAT  ADAMS. 


right.  But  at  the  same  time,  Mr.  Hill,  I  am 
willing  that  you  should  have  a  just  share  in 
my  profits.  After  that  I  must  look  a  little 
to  my  own  interest." 

Mr.  Hill  muttered  something  very  like  an 
oath  as  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  left  the 
engine-room.  But  although  several  days 
passed,  and  he  came  as  usual  through  the 
works  and  often  stood  near  Wat  in  the 
course  of  his  examinations  into  the  progress 
of  the  machinery,  he  took  no  notice  what- 
ever of  the  young  inventor,  nor  by  word  or 
sign  showed  that  he  remembered  the  affair 
about  the  model. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


CHARACTER  IS  POWER. 

R.  THATCHER  was  a.  very  good 
friend  to  our  young  mechanic.  He 
had  given  him  a  helping  hand  when 
he  stood  very  much  in  need  of 
advice  and  assistance,  and  continued  still  to 
take  a  warm  interest  in  his  welfare,  inviting 
him  to  make  use  of  his  books.  Many  a 
pleasant  hour  did  Wat  spend  in  the  good 
merchant's  well-furnished  library,  where  he 
had  access  to  valuable  scientific  works  which 
he  could  not  have  afforded  to  purchase  with 
his  limited  wages. 

He  often  met  there,  also,  gentlemen  of 
high  attainments,  and  liked  to  hear  them  con- 
verse with  Mr.  Thatcher  on  different  subjects 
of  art  and  science.  One  was  a  traveler 
who  had  visited  almost  every  corner  of  the 

217 


218 


WAT  ADAMS, 


globe  and  brought  home  a  rare  collection  of 
specimens,  some  of  which  he  had  presented 
to  his  friend  Mr.  Thatcher,  who  considered 
them  the  chief  attractions  of  his  library. 

Another  of  these  persons  was  a  great  en- 
gineer who  had  spent  much  time  and  money 
in  bringing  the  art  of  steam  as  a  motive 
power  as  near  to  perfection  as  possible.  He 
also  had  been  a  sojourner  in  many  lands, 
testing  the  different  machines  in  use  and  fill- 
ing orders  for  their  establishment  in  places 
where  mechanics  had  not  attained  such  a 
high  grade  as  in  his  native  land.  And  a 
third  of  Mr.  Thatcher's  intimate  friends  was 
a  celebrated  naturalist.  He  was  writing  a 
book  about  some  new  discoveries  he  had 
made,  and  was  busily  examining  various 
works  of  science,  noting  down  such  facts  as 
he  met  with  to  assist  him  in  his  undertaking 
and  comparing  them  with  those  in  his  own 
experience. 

Wat  used  to  sit  in  some  quiet  corner,  and 
while  he  was  apparently  engaged  with  a 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


219 


book  he  was  intently  listening  to  the  con- 
versation that  went  on  around  him.  Even 
the  literary  man  would  sometimes  lay  aside 
his  pen  and  join  in  the  theme  that  was  under 
discussion,  adding  bits  of  information  and 
stories  of  his  own  adventures  that  were  of 
great  interest. 

On  these  occasions  our  young  mechanic 
modestly  supposed  himself  to  be  entirely  un- 
noticed. He  was  thankful  for  the  opportuni- 
ties afforded  him  by  Mr.  Thatcher  of  con- 
sulting his  rare  and  valuable  collection  of 
books,  and  had  no  wish  nor  expectation  of 
being  considered  in  the  light  of  an  acquaint- 
ance or  on  a  familiar  footing  with  his  bene- 
factor's visitors.  Mr.  Thatcher's  two  elder 
sons  often  sat  with  him  at  his  little  table  to 
pursue  their  studies.  They  had  established 
quite  an  intimacy  with  Wat,  who  many  a 
time  helped  them  over  some  hard  places  in 
their  Latin  lessons  or  assisted  in  unraveling 
a  knotty  problem  in  mathematics.  When 
they  left  the  room  at  the  close  of  the  even- 


220 


WAT  ADAMS, 


ing,  he  generally  contrived  to  slip  out  in 
their  company,  unspoken  to  and,  as  he  sup- 
posed, unobserved  by  Mr.  Thatcher's  guests. 

But  this  was  not  exactly  the  case.  They 
had  not  only  noticed  the  young  man,  but 
learned  such  particulars  of  his  history  and 
aims  in  life  as  the  merchant  was  himself  ac- 
quainted with.  So  it  happened  that  when 
Mr.  Thatcher,  who  knew  all  about  Wat's 
invention,  asked  him  to  bring  his  model  on 
a  certain  evening  to  exhibit  it  to  his  boys, 
the  three  gentlemen,  who  were,  each  in  his 
way,  lovers  of  science  and  art,  were  among 
the  spectators. 

Wat  thought  this  was  a  very  different 
thing  from  showing  his  model  to  Mr.  Hill 
and  the  overseer,  Seth  Watkins.  He  felt 
very  anxious  as  he  watched  the  counte- 
nance of  the  great  engineer,  and  saw  how 
closely  he  examined  every  movement  and 
calculated  every  stroke  and  turn  of  the 
wheels.  It  expressed  approbation,  however ; 
and  when  the  little  machine  had  run  itself 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


221 


down  many  times,  until  even  the  boys  were 
satisfied  with  its  performances,  the  gentleman 
turned  to  the  young  mechanic  and  warmly 
congratulated  him  on  his  successful  inven- 
tion, offering  him  his  assistance  in  securing  a 
patent-right  to  it  and  promising  to  aid  him 
in  using  it  to  advantage. 

One  incident  that  evening  amused  Wat 
very  much.  He  was  standing  apart  from  the 
rest,  examining  a  large  book  of  choice  en- 
gravings, when  he  felt  his  hand  pulled 
smartly,  and  looking  down  saw  that  Oscar, 
Mr.  Thatcher's  youngest  son,  a  boy  of  eight 
or  nine  years  of  age,  was  standing  beside 
him. 

"  See  here  :  I  read  about  you  in  a  book  at 
our  school,"  said  the  little  fellow,  with  spark- 
ling eyes. 

"  I  guess  not,"  returned  Wat,  laughing ; 
"  no  one  knows  or  cares  enough  about  me  to 
put  me  in  a  book." 

"  Oh,  but  I'm  sure  it  must  be  you.  I 
heard  father  call  you  Wat,  and  you  invented 


222 


WAT  ADAMS. 


tliat  beautiful  little  steam-engine  over  there. 
The  book  tells  how  your  grandmother  scolded 
you  for  lifting  up  the  lid  of  her  saucepan  so 
often  to  see  what  made  the  drops  on  the  in- 
side of  it,  And  all  the  time  you  wTere  think- 
ing about  the  steam ;  wasn't  you  ?" 

Wat  thought  it  was  very  probable  that 
his  grandmother  would  have  scolded  him 
severely  for  any  experiments  of  the  kind, 
especially  if  they  interfered  with  her  affairs, 
but  he  hastened  to  assure  little  Oscar  that  he 
and  the  great  man*  who  first  found  out  the 
important  purposes  to  which  steam  could  be 
applied  were  very  different  persons  indeed, 
both  in  name  and  fame. 

He  was  yet  to  know,  however,  that  a  good 
character  is  a  powerful  stepping-stone  to 
success  in  life,  and  a  better  inheritance  than 
riches. 

*  James  Watt?  of  Glasgow,  Scotland. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  TONGUE  OUTRUNS  THE  WIT. 

N  all  these  years  the  village  of  Holly 
had  not  been  standing  still  amid  the 
general  march  of  American  improve- 
ment. New  buildings  were  springing 
up  and  a  large  cotton-factory  had  been 
erected  on  the  bank  of  the  little  stream  that 
had  once  supplied  Daniel  Adams'  grist-mill, 
and  a  dense  population  of  industrious  and 
enterprising  people  was  the  result  of  this 
undertaking. 

Then  it  was  noised  abroad  that  indications 
of  iron  ore  had  been  discovered  in  the  soil, 
and  forthwith  land  increased  in  value  and 
passed  into  the  hands  of  new  owners,  who 
had  sufficient  capital  to  carry  on  the  various 
processes  of  digging  out  the  ore  and  prepar- 
ing it  for  market.   These  new  industries  also 

223 


224 


WAT  ADAMS, 


gave  employment  to  many  workmen,  so  that 
the  once  quiet  village  soon  became  a  busy 
and  thriving  place. 

Especially  was  this  the  case  when  a  party 
of  engineers  exploring  a  route  for  a  new 
railroad  fixed  on  the  beautiful  valley  that 
ran  along  at  the  foot  of  the  Holly  hills  as 
an  eligible  site  for  their  operations.  Hence- 
forth, with  more  convenient  accommodations 
and  speedier  rates  of  travel,  the  lumbering 
stage-coach  became  a  relic  of  antiquity  only 
to  be  had  in  remembrance  by  "  the  oldest 
inhabitant." 

Still  another  enterprise  was  set  on  foot 
about  the  time  Wat  Adams  patented  his 
great  improvement  in  engine-building.  The 
gentleman  who  had  promised  to  give  him 
assistance  in  securing  his  right  to  this  in- 
vention not  only  kept  his  word  with  him, 
but  being  himself  an  important  official  of 
the  company  that  owned  the  new  railroad, 
he  interested  himself  in  establishing  a  large 
machine-shop  at  Holly  station,  where  iron 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  225 

was  plenty  and  cheap,  and  placed  our  friend 
Wat  Adams  at  the  head  of  it. 

The  building  was  already  completed,  the 
machinery  in  good  working  order  and  the 
hands  only  waiting  for  their  new  master 
to  begin  operations.  Wat  and  his  friend 
Ray,  who  was  to  act  as  his  foreman,  were 
expected  to  arrive  by  the  next  train.  Great 
preparations  were  going  on  for  their  recep- 
tion at  one  particular  house  in  the  village ; 
for  the  new  "  boss  "  intended  to  inaugurate 
the  event  by  giving  an  entertainment  to  all 
his  operatives  and  their  families. 

It  was  not  Grandma  Haynes'  little  cottage 
that  was  to  be  the  scene  of  these  festivities. 
A  handsome  house  had  been  erected  on  a 
rising  ground  opposite  to  the  machine-shop 
and  in  a  more  thickly-settled  neighborhood. 
Thither  had  the  voun°;  mechanic  caused  to 
be  removed  those  articles  of  the  old  furniture 
that  had  become  endeared  by  time  and  asso- 
ciation, together  with  such  a  supply  of  house- 
hold stuff  in  more  modern  and  fashionable 


226 


WAT  ADAMS, 


style  as  to  cause  quite  a  sensation  in  the 
village  of  Holly.  Many  were  the  visits 
made  to  see  the  new  house  and  its  appoint- 
ments ;  and  when  Keziah  and  Cynthy  were 
fairly  installed  as  its  inmates,  they  were 
scarcely  free  for  a  moment  from  the  friendly 
calls  of  their  neighbors. 

To  give  the  good  people  of  Holly  their 
just  due,  they  were  no  idle  visitors.  Each 
came  to  offer  a  helping  hand ;  and  when  all 
the  rooms  were  put  in  perfect  order,  and  the 
new  furniture  properly  arranged  and  duly 
admired,  their  services  were  placed  in  requi- 
sition for  the  coming  feast.  Not  a  house- 
wife in  the  village  but  claimed  a  right  to 
have  a  finger  in  the  making  of  every  pie, 
and  there  was  no  end  to  the  mixing  of  cake 
and  whipping  of  eggs  for  custards  and  pud- 
dings. Each,  too,  had  a  favorite  recipe 
which  she  insisted  on  trying ;  and  as  they 
brought  their  own  materials  with  them,  the 
inevitable  failure  of  some  of  these  prepara- 
tions did  not  involve  the  young  mistress  of 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


227 


the  establishment  in  any  unnecessary  ex- 
pense. 

Besides,  they  carried  in  for  the  men's  sup- 
per lots  of  pickles  and  whole  jars  of  pre- 
serves, with  rolls  of  butter  and  cheese  of 
their  own  making,  while  their  glowing  ovens 
turned  out  enough  loaves  of  bread,  both  white 
and  brown,  to  feed  a  multitude  of  hungry 
people. 

On  the  afternoon  preceding  the  arrival  of 
the  two  friends  came  Jemima  Berry  to  take 
a  share  in  the  proceedings.  She  lived  at 
some  distance  from  Holly  now,  but  having 
many  acquaintances  in  the  village,  often 
made  prolonged  visits  to  see  her  old  neigh- 
bors and  hear  all  that  had  taken  place  in 
her  absence.  Two  years  had  passed  away 
since  her  last  visit ;  she  had  therefore  much 
to  talk  about  and  many  inquiries  to  make. 

To  do  honor  to  the  occasion,  she  had  ar- 
rayed herself  in  her  very  best  suit,  a  violet 
silk  gown,  a  shawl  striped  with  all  the  col- 
ors of  the  rainbow,  and  a  bonnet  which  the 


228  WAT  ADAMS, 

Holly  boys  called  "  stunning,"  so  loaded  was 
it  with  bows  of  bright-hued  ribbons  and  red 
and  blue  artificial  flowers. 

Keziah  presented  quite  a  contrast  to  her 
visitor  as  she  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  large 
kitchen  with  a  white  apron  tied  over  her 
dark  calico  dress  and  her  sleeves  rolled  back 
to  the  elbows,  cutting  dough  into  shapes 
ready  to  be  fried  in  the  pan  of  hot  lard 
that  Cynthy  had  placed  on  the  cook-stove. 

Miss  Berry's  first  proceeding  was  to  toss 
her  fine  bonnet  on  the  nearest  chair,  pin  up 
her  gown  and  scramble  on  one  of  Cynthy's 
tow  aprons  to  protect  her  attire  from  any 
possible  injury. 

"  My !"  she  exclaimed,  throwing  up  both 
her  hands  in  astonishment ;  "  you  don't  mean, 
Keziah  Adams,  to  fry  them  doughnuts  as 
soon  as  you  mould  them  out  ?  Sure  as  you 
do  they'll  be  as  heavy  as  lead.  Cynthy,  you 
take  off  that  pan  of  fat  and  let  it  stand  till 
I'm  ready  for  it.  I'll  show  you  how  to  have 
them  crisp  and  light  as  a  feather." 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


229 


"Takes  me  to  have  good  doughnuts," 
went  on  the  voluble  damsel  as  she  took 
Keziah's  place  at  the  board  and  proceeded 
to  fashion  the  mass  into  diamonds,  twists 
and  other  fantastic  shapes.  "  I  always  cal- 
kilate  on  their  rising  a  spell  like  bread,  and 
then  when  I'm  all  ready  I've  nothing  to  do 
but  fry  them  as  brown  as  my  own  name, 
which  is  Berry." 

Here  the  good-natured  Jemima  laughed 
at  what  she  considered  a  witty  speech,  then 
turned  to  look  at  Keziah,  who  had  quietly 
taken  a  seat  in  a  large  rocking-chair  and 
was  adjusting  the  wristbands  of  her  dress. 

"  You  ben't  affronted,  be  you  ?"  she  asked, 
a  little  apprehensively.  "  But  you  needn't 
mind  me,  child.  Many's  the  time  I've 
rocked  you  in  your  cradle  long  before  I 
came  to  live  with  your  grandma,  though,  to 
be  sure,  I  was  but  a  slip  of  a  girl  then  my- 
self." 

Keziah  hastened  to  assure  Jemima  that  she 
was  not  at  all  offended  with  her  well-meant 


230 


WAT  ADAMS, 


offers  of  assistance,  but  confessed  to  being 
u  just  a  little  tired  "  with  her  efforts  to  have 
everything  in  order  against  her  brother's 
arrival. 

Worried  out,  and  no  wonder,  poor  dear  !" 
said  Jemima,  in  sympathizing  tones ;  "  and 
you  never  was  over  and  above  strong  either, 
Keziah.  I  used  to  think  your  grandma  real 
sharp  with  you  in  the  old  times  afore  your 
mother  died,  and  that  you  would  go  off  in  a 
consumption  or  atrophy,  or  something  of  the 
kind.  Do  ye  calkilate  to  keep  on  at  the 
dressmaking  business  now  your  brother's 
doing  so  well,  Keziah  ?"  asked  the  visitor,  a 
little  irrelevantly. 

Being  duly  informed  on  this  subject, 
Jemima  went  off  into  a  description  of  two 
new  dresses  which  she  had  just  bought  and 
intended  having  made  up  in  the  latest  fashion. 
By  the  time  she  had  discussed  the  various 
modes  of  trimming  and  what  style  would  be 
most  becoming  to  her  figure  and  complexion 
the  doughnuts  were  declared  to  be  ready  for 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


231 


the  pan ;  and  arming  herself  with  a  large 
fork,  Miss  Berry  took  the  brunt  of  the  fire. 
Bat  her  employment  admitting  of  tongue  as 
well  as  hand  exercise,  she  went  on  with  her 
talking,  although  rather  in  a  random  fashion  : 

"  My  !  but  this  is  another  sort  of  a  place 
from  your  grandma  Haynes'  old  house.  I 
peeped  into  the  parlor  before  I  came  in  here, 
and  saw  such  a  lot  of  elegant  things.  And 
that's  a  splendid  set  of  china  of  yours, 
Keziah — -just  as  white  as  the  snow,  though, 
for  my  part,  I  always  fancied  dark  blue. 
But  '  every  one  to  his  liking,'  you  know. 
I  wonder  what  your  grandma  would  say 
about  Wat  now  if  she  had  lived  to  see  this 
day  ?  Poor  soul !  she  never  had  a  bit  of 
faith  in  his  getting  along.  He  was  too  much 
for  poring  over  a  book,  she  used  to  say." 

"  But,"  said  Keziah,  "  if  Wat  had  not  had 
good  learning  and  studied  as  hard  as  he 
did,  he  could  not  have  been  so  successful, 
Jemima." 

"  All  moonshine,  dear.  It's  faculty  as  gets 


232 


WAT  ADAMS. 


a  man  along  in  the  world,  or.  for  that  matter, 
a  woman  either.  Some  folks  is  born  with  it, 
and  some  hasn't  the  least  grain.  I've  seen 
people  as  hadn't  a  mite  of  contrivance  or 
system  about  anything  they  did.  They  do 
their  work  in  a  heedless,  higgledy-piggledy 
sort  of  fashion,  hindering  more  than  thev 
help.  If  there's  a  right  and  a  wrong  of 
doing  a  thing,  they're  sure  to  do  the  wrong 
and  2:0  fluttering  around  like  a  chicken  with 
its  head  cut  off.'' 

Keziah  could  not  help  laughing  at 
Jemima's  droll  way  of  expressing  herself. 
Miss  Berry  certainly  had  faculty  of  some 
kind,  and  her  °*ift  of  the  tongue  was  not  the 
least  of  her  acquirements.  Xeither  was  she 
sparing  of  it  on  this  occasion.  The  next 
time  she  spoke,  however,  it  was  rather  more 
soberly  : 

"  Then  there's  those  as  has  fortunes  left 
'em.  and  thev  think  the  earth  is  hardly  °;ood 

'ml  w  O 

enough  for  'em  to  tread  on.  But  sometimes 
'twould  have  been  better  if  they'd  had  to  put 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  233 

their  own  hands  to  and  helped  themselves  a 
bit.  6  Riches  takes  to  themselves  wings/  the 
good  book  tells  us.  I  dare  say  Mr.  Graham 
thinks  so  too  by  this  time.  Poor  man  !  I 
saw  him  to-day,  and  he  looks  old  and  care- 
worn. They  say  that  wretched  son  of  his 
has  ruined  him,  with  his  fast  horses  and 
gambling  and  tavern  bills.  I  hear  there  was 
an  execution  in  their  house  last  week.  Bet- 
ter the  young  man  had  never  had  a  cent  to 
spend  than  turn  out  such  a  sot  and  a  wreck 
in  the  very  prime  of  life,  as  one  may  say. 
Your  grandma  used  to  talk  a  heap  about 
your  uncle  Walter,  Keziah,  and  how  she  ex- 
pected him  to  come  home  some  day  with  a 
great  big  purse  of  money  to  make  you  all 
rich." 

"  Poor  grandma!  She  never  saw  her  son 
again,  Jemima.  Uncle  Walter  was  lost  in  a 
great  storm  at  sea— at  least  the  vessel  he  sailed 
in  was  never  heard  of  after  leaving  South 
America.  But  whether  he  was  bringing  any 
money  home  with  him  or  not  we  never  knew  ; 


234 


WAT  ADAMS, 


and  as  far  as  Wat  and  I  are  concerned,  it 
makes  very  little  difference,  for  a  good  name 
is  the  best  inheritance  we  can  have." 

"  Well,  you  have  that,"  said  Jemima,  ap- 
provingly ;  "  all  the  neighbors  speaks  well  of 
you.  Why,  the  whole  town  is  a'most  ready 
to  eat  your  brother  up  when  he  comes." 

"  I  hope  not,"  said  Keziah,  laughing ; 
"  there's  plenty  of  other  food  for  hungry 
mouths." 

"  Pshaw  !  you  know  well  enough  what  I 
mean,  Keziah.  They'll  be  so  glad  to  see 
him  and  remember  that  he  was  raised  here — 
one  of  the  Holly  boys,  you  know.  That's 
what  they're  so  proud  of.  And  he  is  a  real 
smart,  fine-looking  man  too.  I  saw  him  the 
last  time  I  was  here,  he  and  that  good-look- 
ing chap  that  comes  with  him.  You  needn't 
color  up  so,  Keziah ;  don't  I  know  you'll  have 
another  house  to  keep  some  of  these  days? 
Mrs.  Smith  told  me  to  ask  all  about  it  when 
I  saw  you.  So,  now,  what  shall  I  tell  her 
when  I  go  back  again  ?" 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


235 


"  Tell  lier  that  you  don't  know  anything 
about  it  yourself,  Jemima/'  said  Keziah, 
quietly. 

"  O — h  !  that  means  it's  none  of  my  busi- 
ness, I  s'pose  ?  Well,  perhaps  it  ain't.  Any- 
how, here  is  a  nicer  dish  of  doughnuts  ready 
for  them  when  they  do  come  than  ever  they 
saw  in  their  born  days  afore,  I'll  be  bound. 
And  now  where's  the  table  to  be  set  for 
the  men's  supper?  This  kitchen  ain't  big 
enough,  is  it  ?" 

"  No ;  in  the  large  room  over  the  machine- 
shop.  The  carpenter  has  laid  boards  on 
trestles  for  tables,  and  the  cloth  and  dishes 
are  already  in  order.  Several  of  our  kind 
neighbors  are  there  now  getting  ready  for 
the  evening." 

"  You  don't  say  ?"  cried  Jemima,  hurriedly 
divesting  herself  of  Cynthy's  big  apron  and 
putting  her  dress  in  proper  order  for  going 
out ;  "  then  I  must  lose  no  more  time  in 
dawdling,  for  I  wouldn't  miss  seeing  the 
table  set  for  a  dollar.    If  there's  anything  I 


236  WAT  ADAMS. 

have  a  taste  for,  it's  setting  out  a  supper  in 
nice  order." 

So  saying,  Miss  Berry  hastily  took  her  de- 
parture, leaving  Keziah  much  relieved  and 
glad  to  be  alone  again  with  her  little  hand- 
maiden Cynthy,  for  her  visitor's  talk  had 
been  like  "  a  continual  dropping  in  a  very 
rainy  day." 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

HE  RULES  BEST  WHO  HAS  SERVED  BEST. 

T  had  been  arranged  that  the  two  young 
men  should  have  a  quiet  little  sup- 
per to  themselves  in  the  new  house 
before  going  over  to  meet  with  the 
workmen  and  their  families  at  the  machine- 
shop. 

So  soon,  therefore,  as  Cynthy  had  tidied 
up  the  kitchen  and  set  out  the  round  tea- 
table  with  its  nice  white  china  and  glass 
dishes  that  glinted  in  the  sun  like  burnished 
silver,  she  was  sent  off  to  change  her  work- 
ing dress  for  a  neat  print,  and  afterward 
despatched  to  offer  her  services  to  the  good 
ladies  who  were  presiding  over  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  workmen's  supper. 

Keziah  then,  having  arrayed  herself  in  a 
certain  blue  dress  that  her  brother  always 

237 


238 


WAT  ADAMS, 


liked  to  see  her  wear  and  twisted  some 
flowers  of  the  same  hue  in  her  golden  braids, 
took  a  seat  at  the  west  window  to  watch  for 
the  coming  train. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  rush  and 
tremble  of  the  ground  became  perceptible 
even  at  that  distance;  then  the  piercing 
shriek  of  the  steam-whistle  was  heard,  and 
soon  the  long  line  of  cars  came  gracefully 
round  a  curve  in  the  road,  first  slackening 
speed  and  throwing  off  steam,  till  finally  it 
made  a  full  stop  at  Holly  station. 

Her  post  of  observation  commanding  a  full 
view  of  this  latter  point,  Keziah  could  see 
that  a  larger  crowd  than  usual  was  collect- 
ed to  await  the  expected  arrival,  and  she 
noticed  with  no  little  pride  that  two  persons 
who  alighted  from  the  cars  were  surrounded 
on  all  sides  and  friendly  hand-shakes  and 
greetings  exchanged  with  more  warmth  than 
ceremony.  She  knew  these  could  be  no 
other  than  Wat  and  his  friend  Ray;  and 
while  she  turned  for  a  minute  to  see  that 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  239 


everything  was  in  order  on  her  neat  little 
table  and  assure  herself  that  the  tea-kettle 
was  actually  singing,  they  were  already  at 
the  door  and  calling  to  her  to  join  in  their 
welcome  to  Holly. 

What  a  delightful  little  supper  that  was ! 
The  fragrant  cup  of  tea,  the  golden  butter 
and  light,  fresh  rolls  of  bread,  delicious 
honey  in  the  comb,  and  last,  though  not 
least,  Jemima  Berry's  crisp,  brown  dough- 
nuts, were  all  duly  partaken  of  and  admired. 
Then  the  brother  and  sister  talked  together 
over  the  wonderful  way  by  which  God  had 
led  them  and  prospered  them  until  this 
happy  day  when  they  were  about  to  enjoy  a 
home  of  their  own.  They  promised  each 
other  mutual  assistance  in  the  new  duties 
upon  which  they  were  to  enter,  and  ex- 
pressed their  desire  to  be  useful  to  those  who 
should  be  placed  under  their  care  and  to  do 
them  good  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word — 
that  is,  to  further  their  spiritual  as  well  as 
their  temporal  interests. 


240 


WAT  ADAMS, 


"  By  the  bye,  Kizzy,"  said  Wat,  smiling 
at  his  sister,  "I  shall  have  to  ask  your 
pardon  almost  the  very  minute  I  come 
home  for  something  I  have  done  without 
getting  your  consent.  Do  you  know  I  have 
given  away  Grandma  Haynes'  old  cottage  ?" 

"  Well,  surely  you  had  the  best  right  to 
it,  dear  Wat.  Have  you  not  built  this 
beautiful  house  and  made  me  its  mistress, 
besides — " 

"  Promising  you  another  one  some  of  these 
days  when  you  are  tired  of  presiding  over 
mine  ?  Nay,  don't  be  vexed  with  me,  dear  * 
Kizzy ;  I  know  that  was  not  what  you  were 
going  to  say.  And  you  needn't  mind  Ray's 
laughing,  either ;  he  is  my  second  self,  you 
know." 

"  Have  you  given  the  old  cottage  to  him  ?" 
said  Keziah,  demurely. 

"  Certainly  not.  The  friend  who  gave  me 
a  shelter  when  I  was  homeless  is  welcome  to 
the  best  room  in  my  house  now  that  God 
has  prospered  me  so  greatly.    No,  Kizzy,  it 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


241 


is  to  an  older  acquaintance  and  one  in  a  low- 
lier station  in  life  that  I  have  parted  with  our 
old  home.  You  remember  my  telling  you 
of  Tom  Dickson,  with  whom  I  passed  my  first 
night  after  leaving  Holly  ?  He  told  me  that 
he  was  trying  to  earn  money  enough  to  give 
his  old  mother  a  house  of  her  own,  and  I 
made  the  resolution  that  if  ever  I  had  the 
means,  I  would  help  him  carry  out  his  proj- 
ect. So,  with  your  permission,  I  intend  pla- 
cing the  deed  of  the  little  property  in  his 
hands  this  evening  and  giving  him  a  pleas- 
ant surprise." 

"  Is  he  to  be  one  of  your  workmen  ?"  asked 
Keziah.  "I  have  always  understood  that  Tom 
Dickson  was  not  over  and  above  smart;  I 
should  think  he  had  not  ability  enough  to  be 
a  good  machinist." 

"  He  will  be  a  capital  hand  to  have  charge 
of  the  horses.  At  any  rate,  I  have  promised 
him  constant  employment  and  good  wages. 
And  now  I  think  it  is  time  we  were  going 
over  to  my  new  quarters.     The  men  may 

16 


242 


WAT  ADAMS, 


become  impatient,  and  those  who  are  prepar- 
ing the  supper  will  be  afraid  of  the  old  adage 
coming  true,  6  There's  many  a  slip  between 
the  cup  and  the  lip.' " 

It  needed  but  this  to  verify  Mr.  "Walter 
Franklin  Adams,  master  of  the  new  machine- 
shop,  with  the  "  Old  Proverbs  "  of  former 
days.  But  in  either  capacity  he  seemed  at 
home  with  all  the  good  people  of  Holly  as, 
with  Keziah  on  his  arm,  he  ascended  the  stairs 
and  entered  the  scene  of  festivity. 

He  was  just  in  time,  too,  for  the  long  tables 
were  already  spread  with  the  materials  for 
a  bountiful  repast,  and  the  workmen  and 
their  wives  standing  in  a  double  row  around 
the  room,  waiting  for  the  new  master  to  make 
his  appearance.  Foremost  among  those  who 
had  volunteered  to  wait  on  the  guests  was 
Jemima  Berry.  She  had  perched  her  fine 
bonnet  high  up  on  the  wall,  among  the  fes- 
toons of  trailing  ground-pine  and  bunches 
of  flossy  hollv  leaves  which  some  of  the 
young  people  had  gathered  for  the  occasion, 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST.  243 


so  that  it  appeared  to  be  one  of  the  orna- 
ments of  the  scene. 

Then  she  flew  around  and  offered  to  help 
every  one  at  once,  for  she  was  perfectly  in 
her  element  now.  Not  a  dish  but  her  prac- 
ticed hands  moved  a  trifle  to  suit  her  own 
ideas  of  propriety,  not  an  eatable  but  she  had 
helped  to  prepare  or  given  her  advice  as  to 
the  proper  mode  and  time  for  it  to  make  its 
appearance  on  the  board.  Indeed,  she  gave 
such  valuable  assistance,  and  seemed  so  eager 
to  demonstrate  in  her  own  person  the  difficult 
problem,  "  How  can  one  be  in  two  places  at 
the  same  time?"  that  her  coadjutors  won- 
dered to  themselves  and  each  other  what  they 
would  have  done  without  her. 

When  all  were  at  last  seated  and  the  noise 
and  bustle  had  subsided,  Wat  made  a  short 
but  pithy  speech,  followed  by  a  still  shorter 
one  from  the  new  overseer,  Ray  Col  ton,  who 
professed  to  be  better  able  to  handle  his 
tools  than  use  his  tongue.  But  his  smiling 
countenance  and  frank,  lively  manners  spoke 


244 


WAT  ADAMS, 


volumes  for  liim  and  made  him  a  favorite 
with  the  men  at  first  sight. 

Tom  Dickson  and  his  mother  were  the 
last  to  arrive.  They  had  only  reached  Holly 
about  an  hour  before,  a  good  farmer  from  their 
former  neighborhood  having  offered  them  a 
conveyance  in  his  covered  cart,  and  as  usual 
they  had  met  with  the  numerous  detentions 
and  disasters  which  attend  such  a  mode  of 
traveling.  As  they  stood  in  rather  a  forlorn 
manner  near  the  door,  too  timid  to  make 
further  advances,  Wat's  quick  eye  saw  and 
recognized  them.  He  at  once  led  Keziah  to 
speak  to  the  good  old  woman,  who,  with 
silvery  hair  smoothed  back  under  *her  close 
frilled  cap  and  the  whitest  of  white  ker- 
chiefs pinned  across  the  bosom  of  her  new 
black  gown,  looked  the  very  picture  of 
serene  and  contented  old  age.  Keziah  took 
a  fancy  to  her  at  once,  and  finding  seats  for 
her  and  Tom  at  the  table  heaped  their  plates 
and  pressed  them  to  partake. 

As  for  Wat,  it  was  a  luxury  to  him  to  see 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


245 


Tom  eat.  He  remembered  the  supper  that 
the  good-natured  lad  had  set  for  him  in  the 
little  room  back  of  the  stable,  and  how  he 
had  told  him  it  was  the  best  meal  he  had  ever 
tasted  and  that  "  hunger  is  a  good  sauce." 

He  laughingly  repeated  the  proverb  to 
Tom  as,  his  appetite  fully  satisfied,  the  lat- 
ter arose  from  the  table  to  make  room  for 
others. 

"  So  ye  hain't  forgot  that,  Mister  Adams  ? 
for  I  s'pose  I  mustn't  call  ye  Wat  any  more 
now  ye're  become  such  a  rich  man,"  said 
Tom,  much  pleased  and  yet  not  a  little  em- 
barrassed on  what  footing  to  stand  with 
his  employer. 

"I  haven't  forgotten  anything,  Tom.  I 
recollect  perfectly  all  that  passed  that  night, 
and  our  talk  the  next  day  during  our  long 
drive.  You  told  me  then  you  were  saving 
up  your  wages  to  get  a  home  for  your 
mother,  but  I  believe  you  did  not  succeed 
in  your  undertaking  ?" 

"Indeed  I  did  not,  Mister  Adams.  I 


246 


WAT  ADAMS, 


was  so  unlucky  as  to  get  a  bad  kick  from 
one  of  my  horses  soon  after  you  were  along, 
and  was  laid  up  till  winter.  Then  mother 
took  the  rheumatic  fever,  and  there  was  the 
doctor  and  nurse  to  pay,  besides  medicines 
to  buy.  At  the  last,  too,  my  employer 
cheated  me  out  of  a  cool  hundred,  so  I  came 
away  almost  as  poor  as  when  I  began." 

"  Well,  Tom,  you  did  me  a  good  turn 
once,  so  now  I  am  going  to  return  both 
principal  and  interest." 

Here  Wat  exhibited  to  his  astonished 
listener  the  title-deed  of  the  little  property, 
which  he  had  already  prepared  and  made 
over  to  Tom,  at  the  same  time  assuring  him 
that  whatever  articles  of  furniture  remained 
in  the  cottage  were  at  the  new  owner's 
service.  He  told  him,  also,  that  he  had 
caused  a  good  supply  of  flour  and  other 
provisions  to  be  taken  there,  so  that  until 
they  were  settled  and  Tom's  wages  coming 
in  they  should  not  be  in  want  of  the  com- 
forts and  necessaries  of  life. 


THE  YOUNG  MACHINIST. 


247 


It  would  not  be  possible  to  tell  how  de- 
lighted were  both  Tom  and  his  mother. 
They  overwhelmed  their  benefactor  with 
thanks  and  blessings,  though  none  could 
feel  more  truly  happy  in  conferring  a  favor 
than  our  young  machinist,  who  knew  what 
it  was  to  be  poor,  homeless  and  in  need  of 
a  friend. 

And  now  we  may  take  our  leave  of  Wat 
Adams.  We  have  seen  how  manfully  he 
struggled  to  resist  temptation,  how  earnestly 
he  resolved  to  do  what  was  right,  and  how 
he  made  his  way  in  life  through  many  diffi- 
culties and  trials,  steadily  looking  upward 
and  onward.  The  secret  of  his  success  was 
his  early  determination  to  act  out  the 
whole  duty  of  man  in  fearing  God  and 
keeping  his  commandments.  And  he  re- 
alized even  in  this  life  the  truth  of  that 
golden  sentence  of  the  king  of  proverbs : 

"  The  blessing  of  the  Lord,  it  maketh 
rich,  and  he  addeth  no  sorrow  with  it." 


